Page 1521 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010
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MR BARR: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. In the context of the national discussion, yes, clearly there will be changes from the experience that we have seen across the trial schools. There are 10 in the ACT and about another 140 or 150 in jurisdictions all around the country. What there will not be is an opportunity for the ACT to opt out. We are now in, and what happens nationally will happen in the ACT. But we have the opportunity through this trial phase to bring our experiences to the table and our experiences, together with the experiences of other schools elsewhere in the country, will lead to a finalised position on phase 1 of the national curriculum.
As I say, the rollout will commence in ACT schools in 2011 and under the intergovernmental agreement it needs to be completed by 2013.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, a supplementary?
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, can you tell us what sort of federal budget for professional development has been allocated for the implementation of the national curriculum?
MR BARR: I thank Mr Doszpot for the question. Through the range of national partnerships, most particularly the teacher quality national partnership, there is new funding directed towards professional development. Equally, states and territories, and Catholic and independent systems, in signing up to this national reform agenda, have also agreed to direct our existing professional development resources into the implementation of the national curriculum. The national partnerships involve billions of dollars of new funding for education.
I note that, in spite of years of talking about this and successive federal Liberal education ministers who failed to achieve just this outcome and failed to invest in just this outcome, we have, through the federal Labor government, through the partnership with the states and territories, additional resources into education—significant additional resources into education—a component of which is funding for teacher professional development.
The ACT will have a number of announcements to make in the months ahead in relation to our implementation of the national curriculum.
Gaming—sale of Labor clubs
MR SMYTH: My question is to the Treasurer and relates to her responsibility for taxation issues within the ACT government. Treasurer, the Gambling and Racing Commission’s report on the proposed sale of the ACT Labor Club Group notes on page 8 that issues were raised relating to compliance with taxation law. Treasurer, what advice have you sought in relation to taxation implications that might arise for the territory as a consequence of the consideration of the proposed sale of the Labor Club Group?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Smyth for the question. As Minister Barr outlined to the Assembly I think yesterday, or maybe the day before, further advice is being sought for government consideration and all aspects of advice to the government will be provided in that, including the reference to taxation law.
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