Page 4817 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 1 November 2017

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MR WALL: Minister, when will you take decisive action to implement the changes needed to address the lack of Indigenous attendance in ACT schools and close the gap once and for all?

MS BERRY: I am taking decisive action. This is the first time the ACT community has been—

Mr Wall: Having a conversation. Having a chat about it.

Mr Gentleman: A point of order, Madam Speaker, the minister is less than a few seconds into her answer and interjections are flowing across the chamber already.

Mr Coe: You’re interrupting her now!

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Gentleman. We do not need that commentary, Mr Coe. As I keep saying, oftentimes ministers are on their feet and within seconds you are interjecting and disturbing proceedings. Minister, please continue.

MS BERRY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The opposition just cannot stand the fact that we are going out to the community, to the students, to the teachers, to the schools and to the parents to talk about a strategy for the next 10 years to improve on all the work the ACT government has done within ACT schools over the past decade. In addition, we are faced with uncertainty from the federal Liberal government continuing to cut funding from the ACT schools, which will make a difference to every child’s learning, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the ACT.

Mr Wall: Public education just got a massive boost. There is an increase in funding from the commonwealth government and you know it.

MS BERRY: The fact is that there is a decrease in funding in ACT schools—

Mr Wall: You are misleading the house.

MS BERRY: Madam Speaker, a point of order.

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall, you either put that—

Mr Wall: I withdraw.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr Gentleman: A point of order, Madam Speaker, after you warned Mr Wall he interjected in the minister’s response four times.

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall has not been warned. Thank you, Mr Gentleman. Minister.


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