Page 373 - Week 02 - Thursday, 8 March 2007
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quoted the figure that 15 jobs are created in the civil construction sector—eight directly and seven indirectly. So it is a very significant investment in our community; a significant commitment to address the demand for land supply in the territory.
We will continue to focus strongly on this issue in the months ahead and I commend the work that is currently occurring at west Bonython. If members are interested in seeing work in that last residential estate in Tuggeranong, I would be very happy to provide further details to them.
Education Amendment Bill 2006—amendments
DR FOSKEY: My question is to the minister for education and concerns the late amendments to the Education Amendment Bill 2006, passed on Tuesday, 12 December, which his office described as technical. Were the minister and his office aware that those amendments specifically impeded any plans of the Tharwa school community to set up the school as a campus of a private non-government school already established in Canberra? Isn’t it deceptive to withhold such amendments until the last minute and then fail to declare their intent?
MR BARR: I thank Dr Foskey for the question and the opportunity to clear up this issue. I can state absolutely categorically that those amendments had no bearing whatsoever on Tharwa—
Mrs Dunne: That is not the answer to the question. Did you know?
MR BARR: and had absolutely no bearing at all on Tharwa. As I explained at the time, they were simply technical amendments to indicate an area within the Education Act where the act was silent in relation to the registration of additional campuses. All the amendments did was apply the same provisions—
Mrs Dunne: I think that’s a yes, Deb.
Mr Stanhope: About as silent as the Liberals on education policy. Develop any policy last night?
Mr Pratt: Part of your program to exterminate Tharwa.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Barr has the call. Cease interjecting, please.
MR BARR: All the legislation did was apply the same provisions to the registration of an additional campus—
Mrs Dunne: Making it impossible for Tharwa to do what they had already planned to do.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Dunne!
MR BARR: Additional campus that also applied to extending the year level of a non-government school or starting a new non-government school. That was all those amendments did—provide the same provisions.
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