Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (13 May) . . Page.. 1331 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

the motion. I would be prepared to give it more time if a motion to adjourn the debate was allowed; but on the basis of the refusal of the Government to allow us to adjourn it, and on the evidence that is in front of us, I do not think I am left with any alternative but to support the motion.

MS TUCKER (5.43), in reply: I would like to address a few of the points raised by members. Mr Stefaniak did not address the substance of the motion at all; neither did Mr Moore. I am very surprised that the Minister, in an attempt to deflect attention from this motion, tabled the affidavits regarding the School Without Walls. There are two reasons that that is surprising. Maybe it should not be surprising, but I was hoping that Mr Stefaniak might address the substance of the motion. His speech had nothing to do with the substance of the motion. It was to do with what was happening at the School Without Walls, which the Social Policy Committee looked at and made recommendations about. We acknowledged that some issues at the School Without Walls were concerning, and our recommendations reflected that acknowledgment, in that we did say that there should be some administrative linking of the School Without Walls to ensure more accountability where there seemed to be a lack of some, although I note that the Ombudsman says that the department has a similar lack of accountability in its processes, as I pointed out, but I do not hear that we are going to do anything terribly serious about that. In fact, even a censure motion of the Minister is seen to be too strong.

The other issue of concern about these affidavits is that they are one group of affidavits. Affidavits have also been presented which refute what is said in these. It is totally unjust to lay down one set of affidavits and expect them to have some influence in this discussion. I cannot believe that Mr Moore picked them up and took them on as his point of argument. I am absolutely stunned. I think he is usually much more intelligent than that in the way he argues. I was very surprised, because it was totally irrelevant to this motion or this discussion. It is not only irrelevant but also unfair. Why Mr Moore would pick that up as his line of argument I have no idea, and I must say that I am very disappointed. I am also disappointed at how he voted on the adjournment motion.

Mr Stefaniak continued to focus on the substance of the debate about how the School Without Walls worked. As I have said, that is not the point of this debate at all. He said that my concerns were procedural only and that I made a hell of a lot of it. I will remember that, Mr Stefaniak. When you talk about having open and consultative government, that is about procedures. You claimed in your election campaign that they were important procedures. I still hear your Government saying that they are important procedures. Yes, I make a hell of a lot of procedures. I think participative democracy is a very important principle. It is a very important procedure and I am happy to make a hell of a lot of it, and I will continue to do so. I think you will find in the election that the community also thinks it is a very important issue. It is not something to be pushed aside.

You also claimed, Mr Stefaniak, that some officers had formed their own opinions and that that was fine. I do not have a problem with some people in your department having their own opinions. What is concerning is that there was one option only that the Ombudsman found detailed planning for implementation of. That makes one think that it was not just one officer or that, if it was only one officer or two officers, they were the ones who counted because that is where the work was done in developing that option to move the School Without Walls or to start a new school at Dickson.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .