Page 3260 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 18 October 2006
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Mr Speaker, we know that they do not like the guidelines that we have suggested in relation to consultation, the consultation guidelines for closing schools. That does demonstrate one of the differences. We have put forward comprehensive consultation guidelines which would actually assist this process, but the problem from the government’s point of view, once again, is that they would not allow the government to push through the closures. They would actually force the government to take a little more time. Members opposite keep saying that this is a stunt and this is a delaying tactic, but the only people who seem to be hell-bent on rushing this process are members of this government. As I have said, we know exactly why they want to rush it. They want people to forget about their broken promises.
In conclusion, this bill has come forward because of a breach of trust. It is about a breach of trust. The people of the ACT are going to be very wary from here on in about believing any promises that are put forward by the Labor Party on any significant issue. Certainly around public education, they will be most wary when this minister or this government make promises coming up to the next election to do certain things or not to do certain things. We have seen the record of this government. We have seen how they have failed to keep their promises in education, how they have misled the community and gained a majority on the back of it.
This breach of faith is not courageous and the decision and the way it is being implemented are not about what is best for the education system in the ACT. The decision and the haste with which it is being implemented are about this government being absolved of responsibility by the next election. That is why this bill is important. That is why we should support this bill. That is why the ACT Liberal opposition has put forward this bill. It would actually hold the government accountable. The majority of the caucus actually supports part of the bill, but I am sure that they will not be voting for it, which demonstrates that when it comes to this issue you just cannot trust the Labor Party. I commend this bill to the Assembly.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (5.38), in reply: Mr Speaker—
MR SPEAKER: Are you closing the debate?
MRS DUNNE: Yes, Mr Speaker, unless you want to speak.
MR SPEAKER: I am busy.
MRS DUNNE: Mr Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their contributions to this debate. I will pick up where Mr Seselja left off. This bill is aimed at restoring the trust of the people of Canberra in the processes for running their education system. It cannot be reinforced enough that the people of Canberra own the government education system and currently the custodians, the stewards, of that education system, the Stanhope Labor government and Minister Barr, are doing a very bad job of their tenure as stewards of this system.
As Mr Seselja has said, the Stanhope government has betrayed the trust of the people of the ACT. They did not have the courage to say otherwise before the last election when Mr Pratt, as the shadow spokesman for education, had the courage to say that in the next
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