Page 2169 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 June 1990
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would facilitate the community's access to both community based services and government based services in a one-stop precinct. This is what this proposal is all about.
Clearly, one only has to attend meetings on issues like the Griffin Centre to see how the members opposite seek to manipulate the community on these issues by misquoting the facts, or at least telling only part of the truth. There is an old adage that says, "Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story", or, "News today, fish and chips tomorrow". These are the sorts of cheap headlines that we are seeing from the members opposite. I suggest it will not be long, Mr Speaker - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 12.30 pm, the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 77, as amended by temporary order. The member speaking has leave to continue his remarks when the debate continues.
Sitting suspended from 12.30 to 2.30 pm
ABSENCE OF MEMBERS
MR COLLAERY: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the house that the Chief Minister is absent from the house at a funeral and I expect he will return shortly.
MR BERRY: I would like to inform the house that the Leader of the Opposition is also absent, attending the same funeral.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
School Consolidations
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Minister for Education. I refer him to this morning's Canberra Times article concerning the need for the Education Department to compile a comprehensive demographic study before school closures are considered. Has the department compiled such a study? If so, will it be released? If not, why not?
MR HUMPHRIES: There are professional demographers within the ACT Education Department and it is their job to do the necessary homework on the school closure program that I have announced. That means that we will have to sit down and do detailed work on the demographic changes that arise in the ACT as a result of any school closures.
It seems to me that that kind of work is most appropriately concluded and laid on the table at the point when we actually decide which schools should close. There are criteria which clearly set out the basis for that change. I think that the change is appropriately handled within the
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