Page 2514 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 23 August 2006
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The consultation decision-making process undertaken by the government has been inadequate. This is the key point to this motion and why my colleague has introduced it into the Assembly—indeed, I assume that is why it was introduced at the recent ALP annual conference. It is being pushed ahead too quickly. We have raised the issue of these decisions being made effectively on Christmas Eve—I think Mr Stefaniak raised it the other day—and it takes no regard of all the factors including children’s lives. I am settling arrangements now for my children’s education next year. I received a letter yesterday from the school to which my child has been admitted. That is reasonable. We started this process some time back and we know where our youngest child will be educated, hopefully, for the next six years. So to be presenting parents with these options—let us figure your school falls over so you had better make a decision now—is completely insensitive to the problems that were cited, particularly at the meeting in Campbell, where some of the younger people flagged concerns.
The Chief Minister has implied many times that only his government is capable of the courage and conviction required to make the difficult decision to close schools. Indeed, during question time recently he said, “We are prepared to accept the political implications of taking hard, tough decisions”. The point is that by seeking to rush a consultation decision-making process, the Chief Minister and the government are trying to make a hard decision easier by minimising consultation and the chance for residents to respond to the shortest time they can. The closure of schools is not easy. We all accept and understand there will often be well-justified opposition within communities to school closures, and I do not say that there can never be a case for a school closure. That is a fact of life.
Mr Corbell: Just not these ones?
MR MULCAHY: It is the way the government has gone about it. I do say not these ones at this time in this manner. Let us look at the whole process because people feel the government has ridden roughshod over their interest and tried to push through this wholesale closure of schools and that is why it is in so much trouble on this issue. That is why so many of the delegates to your conference, the silent knights on the back bench here, knew from their factional colleagues that this was a near and dear issue to many constituents and why they took the position they did. They know in their heart of hearts that what I am saying is correct and it has been handled awfully.
I know the minister was thrown in the deep end here. It reminds me of that series Yes, Minister, when James Hacker would do something and Sir Humphrey would say, “A very courageous decision, minister.” Minister Barr might be described as being very courageous. I think he has been thrown in the deep end and told like it or lump it. This will see how good he is. He has weathered the storm and presses on regardless. As the Labor Party position was expressed so widely and supported by so many government members, including ministers, we ought to hear from them today. We ought to hear them break their silence on this issue and show whether their allegiance is to supporting cabinet decisions, the factions or the electors who put us into this place.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Planning) (11.11): Mr Speaker, the government does not support this motion. I am pleased to be able to make some comments on this issue. The
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