Page 4580 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990
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MRS GRASSBY: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Why has the date been changed? Are there any reasons, such as a new development, that we should be told about or that we do not know about?
MR KAINE: The reason, as far as I understand it, is that they are making sure that their process and their evaluation is complete and comprehensive. When they make a recommendation to us it will be properly and soundly based, and I applaud them for taking that prudent approach.
Dusseldorp Schools Forum
MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, my question is to Mr Humphries as Minister for Education. Mr Humphries, can you explain why the ACT education system lost the benefit of an approximately $100,000 donation towards E courses through the Dusseldorp Schools Forum, an organisation with the backing of Lend Lease, Westfield and AMP? Does the Alliance Government consider this a minor matter, or what action have you, as Minister, taken to attempt to regain the donation or to ensure that such a situation will not arise again?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Moore for his question and in particular for giving me some advance notice of the question. I can indicate that the premise of the question is wrong. The ACT has not necessarily lost the benefit of a donation from the Hank Dusseldorp Forum. In fact it is my expectation that we will receive the benefit of such an input to the ACT education system, although I acknowledge that the process of organising and negotiating that to occur is not, by any means, completed.
The forum employs a coordinator and has established an office in Newcastle to support a training in retailing and commerce program - that is the TRAC program - for senior secondary and TAFE students. The forum has generously offered to employ a coordinator to set up an office along similar lines in the ACT, as Mr Moore has indicated, to assist in the provision of E courses.
Naturally the ministry is keen to participate in the TRAC program. We believe that it provides a combination of study and work experience for students aiming at a career in retailing and commerce industries. Negotiations have been under way for some months with the Retail Traders Association, the Commerce Teachers Association, the ACT Teachers Federation, the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association and the Trades and Labour Council.
The latest of these negotiation sessions was held on Friday last, 23 November. The unions, as Mr Moore will appreciate, have understandable concerns about programs which provide for some unpaid work - which is what the TRAC program does not include - for trainees and as Minister I
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