Page 2926 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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I seek to amend the proposed referral to the Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs of the level of unmet need for students with disability. I will also move to amend the proposed referral of an inquiry into the socioeconomic achievement gap in ACT schools shortly. As the minister has always been aware, these inquiries have always been on the agenda and the program of the education committee. I was a little disappointed by Mr Barr’s presumption that the point of politics is to appear to have control of the agenda rather than to deliver on the projects or actions. I was challenged to wear a Blues jumper in the chamber if New South Wales won the State of Origin game last night. Mr Barr might like to reflect on the failure of his team. It is a reminder that when push came to shove last night it is not always what you say, it is what you do that counts. I thank Mr Barr for his work on the motion he put to the Assembly. It was very useful in developing the terms of reference. I note that the committee has agreed to the terms of reference.
Mr Hargreaves: Bullying tactics and thuggery always work.
Mr Hanson: We know that’s the mantra you live by John, isn’t it?
Mr Hargreaves: Especially on the rugby field and in the upper echelons of the military yard.
MS BRESNAN: You just have to look at a scoreboard basically, don’t you? These terms of reference are a little broader than the ones proposed by the minister and I believe they are more useful and instructive because of that. The needs of students with a disability in all ACT government and non-government schools is an extremely important issue and I am pleased to bring this amended motion to the Assembly.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (10.24): It is with great pleasure that I rise to support the motion today, a motion that may need a—
Mr Barr: The motion or the amendment?
Mr Hargreaves: The amendment.
MR DOSZPOT: My apologies, Mr Speaker, I will start again—the amendment to ensure that Mr Barr really does mean that the ACT students he refers to in this motion include all government and non-government school students. Mr Barr, with his insatiable appetite for media opportunities and spin, has taken great pleasure in trying to spread the great untruth that the opposition was avoiding this motion. I am pleased to say that this misinformation has not resonated in the community or with the media and, in fact, all of Mr Barr’s appearances in the media seem to be blurring into one.
The motion today is a very valuable one. While I know that this is a tick-in-the-box exercise for the government, as it forms part of the Greens-Labor agreement, the needs of students with a disability have long been put in the to-do-later basket. The referral of this issue to the Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs is the right step in ensuring that enough attention is devoted to rapidly increasing issues that face students and young people with a disability. When we talk about the needs of
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