Page 2469 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 13 August 2014
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MS BURCH: I thank Dr Bourke for his interest. The government does recognise how important quality accessible and affordable education and care services are for working families. The now operating Holder early learning centre meets this criterion for many families. The YMCA are the contract service provider in the centre there. I recently toured the centre and was very impressed with the facilities and the service that they are providing.
The centre includes 10 playrooms which provide 124 education and care places, extensive landscaped areas, educator support spaces and kitchen facilities. The large open spaces provide children with stimulating environments that offer adventure and challenges. The YMCA has done a fantastic job incorporating the environment into the indoor program through a variety of natural resources.
Feedback from families using the centre has been extremely positive, both about the building and the gardens and about the service provided by the YMCA. Families have commented that they are exceptionally happy with the homely feel of the centre, in particular the community dining area where the children enjoy a variety of nutritious meals. The centre’s quality construction was recently recognised when it was shortlisted in the 2014 Master Builders and Cbus excellence in building awards.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, how does the government plan to meet educational needs in Canberra’s growth areas?
MADAM SPEAKER: The original question was about Molonglo Valley and Coombs. The supplementary question was about Duffy Primary School and how that provided for the Molonglo Valley. The third question was about the Holder childcare centre which was also about the Molonglo Valley. I think that if the original question had been phrased in terms of investment in early childhood education and education, with particular reference to Molonglo, it would be in order. Ms Porter, I rule your question out of order.
Ms Gallagher: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Personal explanation
MR WALL (Brindabella): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to make a brief explanation under standing order 46.
MADAM SPEAKER: Do you claim to have been misrepresented, Mr Wall?
MR WALL: I do, Madam Speaker. During the appropriation debate last night, Ms Burch made a reference to a tweet that I put on social media during the estimates process. Her words were something to the effect of, “So the shadow minister for disability put a tweet out that he was looking forward to estimates that day because he was coming down to ask me the hard questions.”
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