Page 3692 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2013
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That is, at least, the position under the agreement signed by the former Labor Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. I am deeply concerned, as are many in our community, at the prospect of an Abbott federal government reneging on the signed agreement. I do hope we can count on the support of the Canberra Liberals in lobbying the new federal government not to cut the funding to ACT government or non-government schools. It is well known and on record that the Prime Minister and the education minister, Mr Pyne, have only committed to four years of funding. This is causing great uncertainty to the government and to the Catholic and independent schools. I would really beseech Mr Hanson to actually heed the concerns of the non-government sector across Canberra and make direct and vigorous contact with the education minister to make sure that the six years of funding that has been agreed will not be stalled or will not be reneged on.
Mr Wall: Wasn’t the Chief Minister looking for a better deal now that there is a new Prime Minister?
MS BURCH: I am not quite sure what the interjection is, but the clear point is that we have a six-year funding agreement with only a four-year commitment coming from our federal government. So I call on all of you over there to make sure that the six years funding is guaranteed.
Mr Wall: But you’re already looking for a better deal now that there is a different government.
MS BURCH: Indeed, if Mr Pyne can make better offers, not worse offers, then I would welcome that discussion. We want to ensure the agreement and the certainties for the government and particularly the non-government sectors. They need certainty in their planning as they move towards 2020.
This year we have also welcomed the opening of two public schools, the Franklin Early Childhood School and the Neville Bonner Primary School, both serving the rapidly growing Gungahlin region, both delivered on time and under budget. The $30 million Franklin Early Childhood School is the first purpose-built early childhood school in the ACT and follows the successful operation of early childhood schools in Isabella Plains, Lyons, Narrabundah, O’Connor and Scullin, Southern Cross. I had the pleasure of officially opening the school last month, although they have been taking students since term 1 of this year. I am pleased to report that enrolments are strong and the community has embraced the new school.
The Neville Bonner school, named after Australia’s first Aboriginal senator, includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks. It is going strong and will be officially opened next month by the Chief Minister. Again, it has been taking students from the beginning of this school year.
In education, we continue to plan for the growth of our city. These are just two schools that have opened to serve the growing areas of Gungahlin. We have provided in this year’s budget funds to complete designs for the new Coombs primary school to open in the new growth area of Molonglo. This school is anticipated to cater for over
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