Page 4226 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 24 October 2017
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Mr Coe: Yes, on relevance. I noted that you made mention of the minister having only 20 seconds. He has near on 80 seconds and to that end would he please directly answer whether the government has received payment for the block?
MADAM SPEAKER: The minister has referred twice to the responsible directorate and I think it is within his policy answer of what he is responsible for in the question. Do you have anything further to add, minister?
Mr Gentleman: No.
MR COE: Minister, has the government received payment of $3.2 million from the Tradies group and can you say with any confidence whether any of the $3.9 million paid to the Tradies group was used to support Labor candidates or Labor causes in an election campaign?
MR GENTLEMAN: I am not the minister for the Labor Party in the ACT.
Schools—infrastructure
MS CHEYNE: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Can the minister update the Assembly on a year of delivering better school infrastructure for Canberra?
MS BERRY: As people in this place would know, the government went to the election with a promise that it would continue to invest in better school infrastructure so that children in Canberra have access to the things that they need for a great education. I am happy to report that across its first year the government has lived up to this promise. I doubt that members have missed my regular announcements of upgrades at ACTÂ schools. Right across our city children are benefitting.
The government has supported improved outdoor learning and active play spaces such as the Torrens Primary School courtyard, outdoor learning spaces at Turner school, a new football precinct at Melrose High School and nature play grants to community organisations providing child services. The government has invested in expanding schools in the growing Gungahlin region, with capacity for extra students at Taylor, Gold Creek, Harrison, Palmerston and Neville Bonner schools to make sure that all children have access to a great education.
Noting the importance of learning skills for life and vocational pathways, as the future of education conversation is confirming, students at Alfred Deakin High School and Lake Tuggeranong College now have access to some great new teaching kitchens. And I can affirm the fact that what is cooked in those kitchens is very tasty and is of the highest quality.
Work is also continuing on contemporary learning and teaching environments at Belconnen High School, with upgrades to technology areas and learning spaces as well as roof replacements. The government has continued to provide grants to support
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