Page 2635 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 28 June 2011

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


need to stand up and accept that our behaviour needs to improve—all of our behaviour in this place. I am ready to lead the challenge on that.

MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, is this Mr Hargreaves’s last chance? If not, why not?

MS GALLAGHER: Mr Hargreaves, after causing offence to Mrs Dunne, has apologised. I am not sure that there is anything further to be gained from the continual airing of this. I do not think further action needs to be taken. I think lessons have been learnt and the challenge to us now is to demonstrate—and this goes to members on both sides—that we have understood the lesson that has been learnt and desist from those sorts of personal interjections in the future.

Mr Coe interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Mr Coe!

Mr Coe interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Mr Coe, I have just asked you.

MS GALLAGHER: Mr Coe, you are one of the serial offenders.

Schools—Tharwa preschool

MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Education and is about the operation of Tharwa preschool. Minister, can you advise why the residents of Tharwa are again without a local preschool, despite agreement by the government in early 2010 to re-establish the preschool at Tharwa?

MR BARR: The only reason that would be relevant in this case would be a lack of enrolments. I will check information from the Education and Training Directorate in relation to current enrolments. If there is not sufficient interest to operate a preschool, then the government cannot operate one.

MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, a supplementary question?

MS HUNTER: Minister, what consultation have you had with Tharwa preschool staff and parents on when they can expect to see a preschool running in Tharwa again?

MR BARR: I understand that it will be an annual process in relation to enrolments. Of course, if sufficient enrolments are there then a preschool can operate. I will seek some further advice in relation to the current level of enrolments at Tharwa and whether there are any expressions of interest. I know that the program was extended to involve three-year-olds and four-year-olds, in an effort to provide sufficient numbers, but this does go to an obvious point. If there simply are not enrolments then there is no point operating a preschool with no students.


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