Page 2924 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 20 September 2006
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I assume they mean the private school as well. The statement continues:
There seems to be no consideration given to the demise of our suburb.
4) Has Mr Barr actually gone to see Maribyrnong Primary for himself? In particular the “fishbowl” environment for children with special needs. There is no comparison between the two schools.
5) Does the government find it acceptable to place our children in demountables? This is exactly what will occur should the majority of parents choose to send their children to Kaleen Primary. After all, we are within our rights to choose this option.
6) Has the government actually looked at how many young families are living in the suburb? There are a lot of preschool aged children in the community and unfortunately the census figures won’t help us in time.
7) Finally, why should the parents (lay people) of our community be burdened with having to write submissions, try to make political decisions and basically come up with reasons and ways to “fix” this Government’s blunders?
“School closures” and “Budget” are two issues that should never have been combined. Stanhope’s actions have been a disgrace and I believe he has totally underestimated the impact the impending school closures will have on all involved.
Then there is rates! Then there is pay-parking at hospitals!
That is how that one finishes. The final one states:
I have grave concerns for the future of public education in Belconnen as a resident, parent and teacher. The government’s attempt to cover their budgetary incompetence with such kneejerk reactions as closing schools and preschools and cutting teaching positions in high schools shows absolutely no foresight or valuing of education.
They are the words of three families in the Giralang area. It shows the concern. It shows the angst and the anger at the stupidity of the government’s decision.
Despite the fact that you have the numbers in this place, the Liberal Party will continue to work with the community. We have announced already that we will be trying to take the community with us. We will be looking at steps to take education forward over the next 25 years to ensure that our system, which is still, despite the efforts you lot seem to be making, the best in the country, remains and continues to be the best in the country, by talking to people, by involving the community and by taking the community with us—not arbitrarily announcing 39 school closures and then trying to justify it. That simply is not working. The community are not buying it.
For that reason, Dr Foskey’s bill is worth supporting. The amendments proposed by Mrs Dunne are sensible, and I urge you to support them.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo) (11.25): The Chief Minister in his speech identified the word “integrity”. That is at the heart of this debate. It is about integrity. It is an issue that you
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