Page 2542 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 7 August 1990
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MINISTER FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE
School Consolidations
Mr Moore asked the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts on 31 May 1990:
Is it true that no schools are likely to close? Or is it true that there there is a split in the Alliance despite Mr Collaerys denials as reported in this mornings paper? Furthermore, Minister, since you this morning defined quality in education as being about choice, in this mornings debate on the Ministerial statement on education, does not that further reinforce Dr Chinchs statement that no school will close since parents clearly enjoy having the choice to send their children to neighbourhood schools.
Mr Humphries: The answer to Mr Moores question is as follows:
The Alliance Government has gone to considerable effort to make clear to the Members of this Assembly and to the ACT community the very difficult budgetary situation we all face as a result of decisions by ALP governments.
I have also made clear the huge oversupply of places in ACT government schools and the financial burden this places on both the school system and the taxpayers of the ACT. We simply cannot afford to continue to maintain 13,000 empty places in our schools. It is clear that schools must be consolidated, and some buildings disposed of or reallocated to other purposes, to reduce costs.
There is, of course, no split in the Alliance Government on this issue. Clearly, members of the Government have their own views on this as on other issues, and these views will be expressed. That does not imply a split in the Government.
Asking me whether I agree with views attributed to Dr Chinch is asking me to express an opinion, and that is contrary to Standing Order 117(c)(i). The fact is, as I have said, that there must be consolidation of schools to reduce surplus capacity.
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