Page 3348 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 September 1991
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MR WOOD: Mrs Nolan asked for one. Perhaps I could have sent one, as a matter of courtesy, to everybody. We sent those to every parent of students in years 7 to 9 at what is effectively Stromlo High School, on the two campuses, and we sent it to children in the feeder schools - in year 6 at the primary schools.
Mr Humphries: To their parents.
MR WOOD: Yes, to their parents. We got just over half the forms back - only 53 per cent - which was a surprise to me. I had expected a much higher return. As we expected from the meetings that various ones of us attended, the response was mixed - and I will make all the information available to the Assembly and to the media. The result of the survey was mixed. If we include those residents who did not return a form, opinion about retaining Holder High School was evenly split. If we consider the forms that were returned, and specifically those from the Holder catchment area, a majority of parents wanted the school to remain open.
But there was a very significant factor that flowed through, and that is that, when we looked at the intentions of parents of year 6 students, it was clear that they were voting with their feet. They were simply not supporting Holder High School; they were going to the Waramanga campus. This is also clear in the year 7 enrolment intentions that, as a matter of course, had been taken at the primary schools. As a result of that it became clear that, even in the moderate term, even within a year or two, Holder High School could not be sustained. It may have been different had the former Government not acted as it did; but it is clear that what was already perhaps a fairly difficult situation for the future of Holder High School became impossible, that we would have had the Watson High School situation revisited, and that consolidation had to proceed.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Wood! On the basis of the suspension of standing orders agreed to earlier, I now call on the Treasurer to present the Appropriation Bill.
APPROPRIATION BILL 1991-92
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.00): Mr Speaker, I present the Appropriation Bill 1991-92. I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Mr Speaker, the 1991-92 budget is a landmark in this Territory's adjustment to self-government. It demonstrates that through a disciplined approach to financial management we can make real progress towards social reform, and real progress towards this Government's fundamental objective to provide a fair and just community for the people of the ACT.
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