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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (13 December) . . Page.. 230 ..


MR CORBELL (continuing):

government to improve some of the circumstances that have been raised by Ms Dundas and, indeed, by the AEU.

Education funding

MR PRATT: My question is to the education minister, Mr Corbell. Minister, yesterday during question time you were asked about the costs of the review of education funding. The Labor Party ran the line that any moneys transferred from the free school bus program to the education budget would be spent inside the school gate. Can you now categorically confirm that, whatever the cost of the education review you have already announced, none of the transferred free school bus moneys will be used for that review?

MR CORBELL: Mr Deputy Speaker, as I indicated yesterday, the government is yet to fully assess the cost of this review because we are still in the process of establishing the exact terms of reference as well as the mechanisms that will govern the conduct of that review. But the commitment from the government stands-$27 million will be spent on our education system, will be spent for schools and in the support of schools, and that is the approach that we will take.

MR PRATT: Mr Deputy Speaker, I have a supplementary question. We are not clear now about where that money will come from and whether indeed the $27 million is going to be spent inside the school gate. As there has been no additional appropriation to the education budget to date, what programs will be cut within the education budget to pay for that review?

MR CORBELL: Mr Pratt does not understand that the government has not yet assessed the cost of this review. Mr Pratt does not understand that. What he also does not like is the fact that $27 million extra will be spent by this Labor administration on improving the education system in the ACT. If Mr Pratt is suggesting-

Mr Pratt: But money is going to have to be spent on the review. Where does the money come from?

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The minister for education has the floor.

MR CORBELL: Mr Deputy Speaker, if Mr Pratt is suggesting that support within the ACT department of education does not have a beneficial impact on schools-

Mr Pratt: No, I am not suggesting that.

MR CORBELL: If Mr Pratt is suggesting that-

Mr Pratt: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker: I am not suggesting that.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order. If you wish, you may take action under standing order 46 at the end of question time.

MR CORBELL

: If Mr Pratt is suggesting that money spent in the department of education does not benefit the school system, then he is sadly misinformed. What Mr Pratt should be aware of is that support services provided by the department of


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