Page 4153 - Week 11 - Thursday, 17 Sept 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I concur fully with Ms Bresnan’s comments. I think that she did a good job as the chair of the committee and I think that the comments that she has made today are largely as I would have said. I commend you for those comments. We have had a couple of minor disagreements with regard to the period of consultation—I will go into that later—and we have had some discussion and disagreement about the number of schools that should be reopened. I came to a decision that it was four of the schools and Ms Bresnan said two.
Turning to Ms Burch’s comments, they were just remarkable. She said that this was a political exercise. Her speech was more or less a remarkable political rant. To have such a political rant and then go and sit in the gallery rather than resume her chair where she could face the comments is remarkable. I am glad she is coming back. She said that it was a political exercise. Those comments were bizarre.
For her to say that the opposition—and I am going through some of her comments—have left the Flynn and Cook communities behind and that we only focused on Tharwa and Hall is amazing. Read my comments. You were in the committee meetings when I said very clearly that I support the reopening of those schools. I am not sure how I left those schools behind.
I notice you talk about the doom and gloom of some witnesses. Yes, indeed, many witnesses appearing before the committee were expressing doom and gloom and disappointment, and the disheartening expressions that we heard were manifold—to the extent that we had people crying in the committee room. And Ms Burch’s dismissal of the Hall and Tharwa communities as simply boutique schools was quite remarkable.
I do not know whether this is Ms Burch’s move on Mr Hargreaves. Clearly, his is the job she is eyeing off in a move to the frontbench, but if this is the level of performance we are going to see from Ms Burch, having sat through that committee since February, then it is absolutely disgraceful.
I turn now to the substance of the issue, and that is the report. I share with Ms Bresnan strong regard for the efforts of Dr Sandra Lilburn. She did an outstanding job. And I thank Ms Bresnan for her committee leadership. Until I read these comments, I would have also thanked Ms Burch because I share Ms Bresnan’s comments that her behaviour in the committee is entirely inconsistent with the comments that she has provided here today and in the report. I do not know whether Mr Barr got to you in the intervening period or quite what happened, Ms Burch, but it is quite remarkable.
I also acknowledge the raft of submissions that we received, 76, which is extensive. So when we hear that there was no evidence, I suggest you go and read those submissions, Ms Burch. There were 31 individuals and groups who appeared before the committee.
I also extend my praise to the teachers and the administrative staff who have been at the front line and have had to deal with these changes. The opposition have supported some of the changes that have been made, although we have been critical of others, and there is no doubt that the teachers and the administrative staff have borne the brunt. I do extend to them my admiration.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .