Page 249 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020
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an original thought. This demonstrates again that the opposition are devoid of any policy ideas of their own and are simultaneously seeking to attack the government for running a strong training program that is oversubscribed.
MR PARTON: Chief Minister, will any courses offered by Creative Safety Initiatives be affected by these changes?
MR BARR: Possibly, because the skills list changes every year.
MS CHEYNE: Just to drive the point home—
Mrs Jones: Preamble.
MADAM SPEAKER: To the question.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members, you have had your fun, so we can stop the interjections, Mr Hanson.
MS CHEYNE: Chief Minister, are the user choice and skilled capital budgets continuing to grow over time?
MR BARR: Yes. The budgets for skilled capital and the user choice program have annual increases, and we will be funding above those budgets in the medium term, as I indicated in response to Mr Wall. But that is not sustainable throughout the next decade, and it is our expectation that the total use of the available funds will be in accordance with the budget. But because we are not making any changes for existing students, the current cohort who are going through their training will be supported to completion. I reiterate the point that the most significant element that we need to focus on is to get those completion rates up, because completing the training is what delivers a skilled worker for a business.
Schools—Molonglo Valley
MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, how is the government catering for the growing population in the Molonglo Valley?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Cody for her question. I want to talk about the Molonglo region, which has grown to almost 7,000 residents since 2011 and is expected to see Canberra’s most rapid population growth over the coming decade, adding an estimated 25,000 by 2029.
Last week I was joined by Minister Steel, member for Murrumbidgee, unions, the P&C council president, the Western Creek Community Council and others to turn the sod for the new primary school in the Molonglo Valley, which is set to open its doors next year. This $47 million facility, funded in the 2018 budget, delivers on government election commitments and will cater for 644 preschool to year 6 students.
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