Page 3555 - Week 12 - Thursday, 20 September 1990
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preschools, as a result of the recommendations of the preschool task force some weeks ago.
Of course, until the decision is made on which preschools should close, I cannot advise Mr Moore or members of the public what the cost of closing those schools will be. However, I will present figures on those decisions in the same accurate detail as those I presented with respect to other school closures. If Mr Moore can identify any shortfall in information in respect of those decisions, I would be happy to hear about it. But I have not been told by any member of the parties opposite what information is lacking from the documents released to date, and I will happily rectify any lack of information which is not available, providing it is within my power to do so.
MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. Mr Humphries, you have stated quite clearly then, if I am not mistaken, that no decision has been made on which preschools are to close. Fisher Pre-School, for example, has been told that it is going to be collocated at Waramanga. Are you saying that, in fact, that decision has not been made and that somehow or other somebody is making a decision without your knowledge? I do not understand. Or are you trying to mislead the parliament?
MR HUMPHRIES: Once again, Mr Speaker, Mr Moore is asserting what someone has told him to be fact. Nobody has told the Fisher Pre-School it is going to close. Certainly it is possible that people from the department have had discussions about the closure of Fisher Pre-School with the parents or the teachers of that preschool. That is not an indication of a Government decision; that is an indication of wanting to consult with that community about the possible consequences of that decision. I refuse to abstain from that kind of process. I think it is an entirely appropriate process to be engaged in if one is considering such decisions.
The alternative is to march into this place or elsewhere and say, "We are closing the Fisher Pre-School" or, "We are closing X or Y preschool and, by the way, we will get around to consulting with you about that afterwards". This is by far the more appropriate action and I will stand by that process.
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I request that any further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Molonglo River
MR KAINE: Over the last days I have been asked a number of questions which I have taken on notice and, since the Assembly will presumably be in recess for three weeks, I would like to answer those questions now.
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