Page 4494 - Week 15 - Thursday, 22 November 1990
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MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I thought I had already said that I had not consulted with Mr Humphries to know when he was going to be absent, if at all. I repeat that, whatever the movements of Ministers, appropriate and adequate arrangements will be made.
Education Policy and School Closures
MR MOORE: My question is directed to Mr Humphries as Minister for Education. Mr Humphries, I do not know whether you are aware that the Belconnen region boards' meeting on 15 November 1990 passed the following motion:
That, in view of the findings of the Hudson Review, and the widely reported experience of school communities, that the Ministry of Education's medium-term planning processes and the accuracy of the information provided by the Ministry are both deficient, this meeting of the Belconnen Region Boards believes the Minister should:
(a) recognise the gravity of these proven inadequacies, and determine to address them urgently and forthrightly;
(b) not now proceed with any school closures until the inadequacies are made good and a consistent long term policy for smaller schools is approved; and
(c) cause a thorough review to be undertaken of the structure, senior management and administrative arrangements in the Ministry.
The first part of the question is: how do you respond to it, coming from such a senior section of the education area? Secondly, how do you respond to part (b) - that you ought not proceed with any school closures until these inadequacies are made good?
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, I have received a copy of the motion that the Belconnen region passed not very long ago and I will be replying directly to the group in due course. I have to say that I note again with interest that there are more than a few people in this place and in the community who are prepared to accept some things that Mr Hudson says and to reject others. Mr Hudson clearly indicated that there were some figures which he did not believe were acceptable, or that he thought should be modified, and that procedures should be changed as a result of his inquiry. He also indicated, however, in light of that information, that a certain number of school closures could occur.
It is not possible for the Belconnen region group or anybody else to say, "We accept the bit of the report where he says that there needs to be more work done, or there needs to be some tightening of procedures in future years, or there needs to be a shake-up in this particular area",
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