Mr ELFERINK - 1999-08-17
Last week we had the member for Stuart claim in this House that Papunya schoolchildren had to endure illegal wiring in their school building - an obvious attempt to gain publicity at the expense of the safety of those school children. What have the minister’s investigations into this matter revealed?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, members would be aware that last week there were some rather alarming, and I would say alarmist, statements made by the member for Stuart. The claim was made that there was illegal wiring at the Papunya school. I say to the honourable member that he couldn’t be farther from the truth. If he has information that there is illegal wiring at that school, he needs to provide evidence. We have looked back on all the records of the school and the most recent checks, to find that there is no case whatsoever of faulty wiring or illegal wiring.
Recently a faulty heater tripped a circuit-breaker. That was, if anything, an indication of the system working. In recent times this particular heater did have a problem. It did cause a short. It is now being repaired in Alice Springs.
Mr Toyne interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Stuart will please refrain from the continual mumble.
Mr ADAMSON: But the fact ...
Mr Toyne interjecting.
Mr ADAMSON: I see, Mr Speaker, that the honourable member chooses to speak over you. This person last week came into this place and made a very serious allegation that there was illegal wiring at a school. Now, there are two issues here: Does the honourable member have information that he is wilfully choosing to withhold? If he has evidence that there is illegal wiring, certainly the department and the school cannot find it. At the very best, the honourable member is being alarmist. At worst, he is withholding information in support of the serious allegation that he has made.
We have debated many things in this place recently. We have gone on time and time again about issues such as bilingual education when we need to be getting back to very important issues such as attendance at school. Comments from the member for Stuart about illegal wiring do nothing more than needlessly alarm a community. I ask the honourable member: Are you being alarmist or are you withholding information? If you have information that there is illegal wiring then I challenge you, sir, to give us that information now.
If you have that information, you are duty bound to provide it. If you do not have that information then I put it to you, sir, that once again you are being alarmist. The only victims are the schoolchildren of Papunya. Once again, this man has simply taken a very important issue and dragged it down into the gutter.
Will honourable members indulge me for one very short moment? You mentioned earlier, Mr Speaker …
Members: No!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ADAMSON: Earlier you acknowledged the presence in the House of students from St Paul’s School and Mr Dirk Benson. Mr Benson was the winner of a national teaching award - one of only two Territorians to receive that. I congratulate him on that award. I think it is only right and proper that teachers do receive due recognition for those sorts of things. I’m sure all honourable members will join me in congratulating Mr Benson on that award.
Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, members would be aware that last week there were some rather alarming, and I would say alarmist, statements made by the member for Stuart. The claim was made that there was illegal wiring at the Papunya school. I say to the honourable member that he couldn’t be farther from the truth. If he has information that there is illegal wiring at that school, he needs to provide evidence. We have looked back on all the records of the school and the most recent checks, to find that there is no case whatsoever of faulty wiring or illegal wiring.
Recently a faulty heater tripped a circuit-breaker. That was, if anything, an indication of the system working. In recent times this particular heater did have a problem. It did cause a short. It is now being repaired in Alice Springs.
Mr Toyne interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Stuart will please refrain from the continual mumble.
Mr ADAMSON: But the fact ...
Mr Toyne interjecting.
Mr ADAMSON: I see, Mr Speaker, that the honourable member chooses to speak over you. This person last week came into this place and made a very serious allegation that there was illegal wiring at a school. Now, there are two issues here: Does the honourable member have information that he is wilfully choosing to withhold? If he has evidence that there is illegal wiring, certainly the department and the school cannot find it. At the very best, the honourable member is being alarmist. At worst, he is withholding information in support of the serious allegation that he has made.
We have debated many things in this place recently. We have gone on time and time again about issues such as bilingual education when we need to be getting back to very important issues such as attendance at school. Comments from the member for Stuart about illegal wiring do nothing more than needlessly alarm a community. I ask the honourable member: Are you being alarmist or are you withholding information? If you have information that there is illegal wiring then I challenge you, sir, to give us that information now.
If you have that information, you are duty bound to provide it. If you do not have that information then I put it to you, sir, that once again you are being alarmist. The only victims are the schoolchildren of Papunya. Once again, this man has simply taken a very important issue and dragged it down into the gutter.
Will honourable members indulge me for one very short moment? You mentioned earlier, Mr Speaker …
Members: No!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ADAMSON: Earlier you acknowledged the presence in the House of students from St Paul’s School and Mr Dirk Benson. Mr Benson was the winner of a national teaching award - one of only two Territorians to receive that. I congratulate him on that award. I think it is only right and proper that teachers do receive due recognition for those sorts of things. I’m sure all honourable members will join me in congratulating Mr Benson on that award.
Members: Hear, hear!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016