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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (25 October) . . Page.. 2007 ..

MS McRAE (12.30), in reply: Mr Speaker, despite many hours of rhetoric - - -

Mrs Carnell: Is she closing the debate?

MS McRAE: I am closing the debate.

Mrs Carnell: May I seek leave - - -

MS McRAE: No; you have spoken.

Mrs Carnell: May I seek leave to make just a brief statement in response to some questions that were asked of the Government?

Mr Berry: Afterwards.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms McRae will close the debate. However, Mr Osborne raised some questions of the Government - - -

Mr Wood: Mrs Carnell can walk down there and talk to him. She already has.

MR SPEAKER: Just a moment. Order! Mrs Carnell may very well do that. However, it may also be the wish of the Chief Minister to have her comments recorded in Hansard. It is entirely up to the Assembly as to how you wish this to be done, but I am going to put the question. If Mrs Carnell is seeking leave, as she obviously is, to publicly respond to questions asked by Mr Osborne, I am asking the Assembly whether leave is granted.

Leave granted.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (12.31): Thank you. I will be very brief. Mr Osborne, and I think Mr Moore, mentioned a problem. If the Charnwood school community do determine that they will amalgamate or close, they asked what the situation will be with regard to some financial pressure that may be put on people with regard to things like bus travel. We do give an undertaking to provide concessional bus travel for a period of two years, as Mr Osborne asked. I think that is similar to the approach that was taken with Griffith Primary School. As well as that, we undertake to make sure that other requirements are met, which may include such things as counselling for assimilation purposes and so on.

MS McRAE (12.32), in reply: How absolutely disgraceful it is that the Chief Minister has to stand up now and offer this!

Mrs Carnell: It was talked about last night at the meeting.

MS McRAE: Not a word of this was mentioned last night. A choice was put in front of a school, decisions were to be made, and none of this was said. Thank goodness, at the very least, that they have been bribed into this decision, here and now. It is absolutely disgraceful, as has been this whole debate all morning.

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