Page 3093 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


Mr Hanson: Hear, hear! Andrew, give her some protection.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!

MS BURCH: No, I was actually too busy talking with that provider about their interest.

Mr Coe: You did it?

MR SPEAKER: Ms Burch, one moment, sorry. Stop the clocks. Mr Coe, you are now warned for constant interjection, as are you, Mr Hanson.

Mrs Dunne: He didn’t say anything.

MR SPEAKER: He did, just a second ago. I do not like to interrupt too often. Minister Burch, you have the floor.

Mr Hanson: I didn’t say a word.

MS BURCH: The key point of the discussion with that well-regarded and established childcare provider was her need and interest to expand her service, in particular to those children under the age of two. The Liberal Party’s childcare policy, at the 11th hour, reads, almost word for word, the same as Labor’s. It was so good you had to copy it.

Childcare—centres

Mr Seselja: That is embarrassing.

MR SMYTH: Yes, it is. Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Children and Young People.

Ms Burch: That is embarrassing—you.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms Burch, you have finished your time. Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Children and Young People. Minister, yesterday you advised the Assembly that the refurbishment of part of the former Flynn primary school, closed by Mr Barr, for a childcare centre is, and I quote from Hansard, “part of the 2008 election commitments”. That part swallowed up the whole of ACT Labor’s 2008 election funding commitment of $4 million for two new childcare centres, which ACT Labor promised to build in areas of high need—one in the north and one in the south of Canberra. So with one new childcare centre being provided in the north, but only offering between 13 and 23 new childcare places, the mums and dads in the south are wondering when their promised new childcare centre will be built. Minister, can you confirm that ACT Labor will honour its 2008 election promise to provide funding for a new childcare centre in the south of Canberra?


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video