Page 212 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 8 December 2004

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an echo of the cry of the American revolution of no taxation without representation. The principles of democratic and fair representation that the Chartists bought with them from England fuelled the fire of the Eureka rebellion. Yet in 1854, these ideals were radical, as notions of democracy frequently are.

Debate interrupted.

Adjournment

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 6.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Corbell: I require that the question be put forthwith without debate.

Question put.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 10

Noes 7

Mr Berry

Mr Hargreaves

Mrs Burke

Mr Smyth

Mr Corbell

Ms MacDonald

Mrs Dunne

Mr Stefaniak

Dr Foskey

Ms Porter

Mr Mulcahy

Ms Gallagher

Mr Quinlan

Mr Pratt

Mr Gentleman

Mr Stanhope

Mr Seselja

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Education—teacher numbers

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children, Youth and Family Support, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (6.03): Mr Speaker, in his inaugural speech yesterday, Mr Mulcahy made the following statement:

… my personal frustration with the incapacity of our local public primary school to provide dedicated teachers for each of the classes for our children contributed to my decision to contest the most recent ACT election. That system, incidentally, is now canvassing the idea of having three classes of pupils assigned to one teacher.

I took this issue very seriously as I know how rumour can be taken as fact and how quickly innuendo can be used to discredit the hard work of ACT teachers and the school communities they support.

The primary school in question is adequately staffed to perform its functions and discharge its duties to all students who attend the school. I can confirm for the chamber that classes were not combined due to teacher absenteeism or teacher shortage. The primary school referred to is currently exploring options to expand the gifted and talented program, a program designed to foster creativity and add to the learning process for the students who participate.

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