Page 3165 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 12 September 1990
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Mr Speaker, you might like to rule on this instead.
MR SPEAKER: I am attempting to ensure that all members are aware of what is going on, including myself. Mr Moore, I am just trying to clarify the situation. Are you asking for this motion to be called on, or to be discharged?
MR MOORE: To be discharged, Mr Speaker.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed, Mr Humphries.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, a press release issued today by the Parents and Citizens Association of the ACT contains a very large number of misrepresentations of the statement that I tabled yesterday in the house, entitled Statement on ACT Schools Re-shaping Program 1990-91. Because of the large number of inaccuracies, I feel it is appropriate for me to address at least some of them at this stage, lest the impression be created that there is any accuracy or validity to the thrust of this document. I want to pick up a number of inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been made by the association.
Mr Speaker, the association claims - - -
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: is the Minister seeking leave to make a statement?
MR HUMPHRIES: I did, and you were not listening.
MR SPEAKER: Please proceed.
MR HUMPHRIES: I know it is late; I know it is after 4.00 pm, but we will go home soon.
Mr Speaker, the association claims that the figures that the Government has put forward are bogus in various respects. They claim that we have overestimated net recurrent savings. It is claimed, for example, that I have overestimated the savings to be made by the closure of Holder High School to the tune of $393,000. I want to point out that this is quite inaccurate and it is based on an assumption articulated by the association in the document that there is "no firm decision" on the future of the school. This is not true. The Government has made a decision about the future of that school and the only question is when that decision should be operative, not whether it should be operative. The saving applicable in that regard is certainly going to be made.
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