Page 1091 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
In this regard I might point out that recently my ministry actively recruited all over Australia for teachers. More than a thousand applications were received as a result of that, and offers of employment were made to approximately 290 of these applicants. Obviously for those people, particularly those from outside the ACT, that question of portability and transferability is very important. Teachers who have come here or are coming here from other States and Territories are undoubtedly quite pleased and excited at the prospect of joining our outstanding and dynamic education system.
Lyons School Community Survey
MR WOOD: I direct a question to the Minister for Education, Mr Humphries. Firstly, is the Minister aware that a survey conducted by the Lyons school community shows that parents are gravely concerned for their children's safety and that 97 per cent indicated that, because of unsatisfactory access to Curtin Primary School, their preferred option is for the children to stay at the Lyons school site as an annex of Curtin Primary School? If the Minister is aware of this, what is his attitude to this clear expression of opinion?
MR HUMPHRIES: In answering that question I should point out that many of the parents at Lyons who unfortunately, at least in the case of some of them, have not accepted the Government's decision on the future of their school have made it very clear for at least the last eight months that it is their intention that their children would not go to the new South Curtin Primary School under any circumstances anyway. Mr Wood might like to characterise their recent so-called survey as proof that there is, in fact, a strong view that they should not go to the new South Curtin school; that there is a new concern in this area with respect to things like paving between the two schools, and access routes and buses and so on. I tend to think it is part of a campaign which unfortunately has been run and which is designed to get the Government to change its mind on that matter.
I have to make it perfectly clear to those parents, as I have made it perfectly clear to everybody else in this debate, that the Government will not be changing its mind on that matter. In respect of the access, about which they have expressed concern, they should be aware that there is work going on at the present time, involving both my ministry and Mr Duby's department, with respect to access and transport.
I understand that last night a meeting was held of the combined Curtin and Lyons school boards and that a further public meeting is being held tonight to discuss the issue. I understand that draft plans outlining the Government's proposed response will be tabled at that meeting tonight.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .