Page 1997 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 5 June 1990
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13,500 was accurate. That revision has been conducted in consultation with the schools, and I can now confirm that we have a figure for capacities in schools in the ACT with which every primary and high school in the Territory agrees. In other words, there is no disagreement between the department and the schools as to what is the figure for surplus capacity in the schools.
The current figure of surplus places in primary and high schools is 10,205 based on individual capacities. There are some 1,250 of those places occupied by outside tenants. There are also 1,168 surplus places in secondary colleges and 1,737 in preschools, making a total of 13,110. That figure is accurate. I believe the data confirm that the Government is on firm ground in proposing a school consolidation program. The excess capacity is an expense that the ACT community can ill afford and it should be addressed.
Watson Psychiatric Hostel
MR MOORE: My question is to Mr Humphries as Minister for Health. Can the Minister inform the Assembly whether discussions are currently being held to establish the viability of converting the Watson psychiatric hostel in Antill Street, Watson, to a privately funded institution? If there are such discussions, can the Minister either make public the nature of those discussions or else reassure the Assembly that this facility will remain a government funded establishment?
MR HUMPHRIES: I am not aware of any discussions surrounding the future of the Watson Hostel. I have visited the hostel and I was not apprised at that stage of any proposed changes to its status. I will, of course, take the question on notice and supply Mr Moore with any information concerning any proposed changes as soon as possible.
Share Transfer Duty
MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, is the Government to appeal to the High Court in respect of the Federal Court's decision upholding an appeal against the Commissioner of Taxation's decision to assess Bell Resource Holdings for share transfer duty of $1.626m in 1986, as reported in yesterday's Canberra Times? Will the Commonwealth be asked to refund the duty it received and paid into consolidated revenue if the High Court challenge is unsuccessful?
MR KAINE: The answer to Mr Stefaniak's question essentially is yes. Special leave has been sought to appeal the decision of the Federal Court which held that
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