Page 2742 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 August 1990
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MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Acting Speaker, I thank Ms Follett for her question. I should refute a couple of assumptions or assertions made in her question. One is that the figures are based wholly on budget assumptions. My understanding is - and I say this without having seen a copy of the costings - - -
Mr Wood: You have had one. Why do you not have a look at it?
MR HUMPHRIES: I have not had one, as a matter of fact.
Mr Wood: You have, as a matter of fact.
MR HUMPHRIES: I am glad Mr Wood is more aware of what comes to my knowledge than I am, but I have certainly not seen a set of Dr Perkins' costings other than a pamphlet which appeared yesterday. Is that what Ms Follett is relying on?
Ms Follett: You have seen the pamphlet?
MR HUMPHRIES: If that is what Ms Follett is referring to then that is what I have seen, although it was not given to me as far as I know. I simply got it through it being handed down from somebody else.
The figures are not based wholly on the Treasury estimates. In a number of respects I understand that there are variations between the Treasury estimates or Treasury assumptions and the assumptions that Dr Perkins has made. I understand that particularly in the area of bussing there are significant differences in the assumptions made by the respective camps. I also understand that there are differences between what Ms Follett says are the savings estimated and what the information says the savings would be. I understand that there is one figure in there - $219,000 - which is a saving to be made by the closure of schools using one set of estimates or assumptions or whatever they may be. I think it is wrong to say that the document assumes necessarily that there will be a loss.
I should remind members that Dr Perkins' original estimates of costs and savings in respect of this exercise indicated that in her view there would be a significant loss of several million dollars over a 20-year period. I am pleased to note Dr Perkins has now accepted that there is the potential for at least a small saving in respect of the government schools reshaping program.
I am not in a position, not having seen that document for more than a few hours - if indeed that is the whole information that Dr Perkins relies on - to indicate what my response to it is. However, Ms Follett would undoubtedly like to know what response there is to that document. I would be very pleased to supply her with the information on that as soon as it becomes available.
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