Page 5203 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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sure that for the people of Gungahlin this will be a revelation. I think they will be disappointed that when the opportunity came to actually ensure that the government held their promise they squibbed it and did not honour their promise.
The motion that I put before this Assembly calls on the government to confirm its commitment to its election promise to build a 50-metre pool in Gungahlin. It is very simple and, I think, entirely reasonable. I am also calling on the government to provide to the Assembly the date by which the pool will be open and available for use by the residents of Gungahlin. I think it is quite clear from Mr Barr’s speech that this pool is not going to be opened any time soon. It may be a re-announcement of a previous election promise. He says the promise is to put it in the budget some time.
I think that the people of Gungahlin, if they were listening to this speech today, would realise two things. One is that Mr Barr was prepared to say anything in the lead-up to the 2008 election to get their support and he is now backing away from it, refusing to commit. The other is that this pool will not be available to them any time soon, which is very disappointing.
Mr Barr talks about a process that is being conducted. He talks about engagement, consultation and a feasibility study. That is all well and good. But regardless of that process, regardless of the outcomes of the feasibility study, the promise—the pledge—was for a 50-metre pool. All of the options that are being considered should incorporate a 50-metre pool. The fact that the government is seriously considering options and a spokesman for Mr Barr has been quoted as saying that the government’s preference is for a 25-metre pool should raise serious concerns.
This is a backflip, pure and simple. But I do not think that the cause is lost. Today, although we have as an Assembly, as a result of the Greens, failed to hold the government to account and guarantee the 50-metre pool for the people of Gungahlin, the Liberal opposition will continue to advocate for one. We will continue to put pressure on the government, as we have done today, as we will do through the media and as we will do by talking directly to the people of Gungahlin. We will continue to put pressure on the government so that we can force them—and that is my aim—to make sure that they do deliver a 50-metre pool for the people of Gungahlin. Although they are trying to back away as quickly as they can, we will do everything in our power, through every avenue available to us, to ensure that they actually uphold and honour an election commitment.
Motion, as amended agreed to.
Education—NAPLAN testing
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella) (5.23): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes the significant:
(a) achievement of ACT students in the 2010 National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests; and
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