Page 3854 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 19 October 2005
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It is an issue that the government is treating seriously. We are ensuring that those views are being fully taken into account.
DR FOSKEY: Given the predictability of the suburb-wide distress, why didn’t ACTPLA or the community engagement unit initiate a broader and more open community consultation process?
MR CORBELL: It is one of those issues: how many people do you advise of a proposal? For example, you could advise the whole suburb of every proposal in a suburb and nine times out of ten no-one would really care because it would not be contentious or controversial. It is very difficult to predict those proposals that will garner community support or concern and those that will not.
The Assembly has, itself, voted on what the notification requirements are. They are outlined in the land act and the regulations to the act. If members had concerns about those regulations and provisions, they had the opportunity to raise them in debate in this place.
Members would be aware that the government, through its planning system reform project, is proposing to change the arrangements in relation to notification, depending on what type of development is being proposed. For example, those developments consistent with a code assessment will not have the same level of notification as those developments that are subject to merit or impact assessment under the proposed performance. So there is the opportunity in the coming 12 months for the Assembly to look at this issue quite closely, and I am sure the Assembly will. Through you, Mr Speaker: I am sure Dr Foskey will do so when the bills come before the Assembly for discussion and debate. But at this stage the government will be continuing with the existing arrangements until the planning system reform project outcomes are presented to the Assembly.
Education—student grading
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. I have been advised by parents of former students from Ginninderra district high school that the students who changed schools, especially those who changed schools at the beginning of term 4, have been told that they will be given “status”, rather than a grading, for this semester’s work. Is this the case, minister, is it widespread, and, if it is the case, why will students who will be attending classes be given status rather than full recognition for their work?
MS GALLAGHER: I understand that that issue has come up during the consultation stage over the proposal that the government has put to the community about a new school in west Belconnen. In looking at how students moving, and students moving early, translate into the new school, the grades that they receive for the course of work that they are doing has come up through advice and concerns from parents. My understanding is that that issue has been addressed and that students will be receiving grades. The suggestion from the parents through a consultation stage has been taken into account and addressed with the students who have already left the school. So I am surprised if it is still an issue. Last week I met with some parents who raised this with
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