Dr TOYNE - 2000-11-30
A year ago, the review of indigenous education, the Collins report, was released, describing the deplorable state of indigenous education outcomes. The minister’s response when pressured over the report was to claim that its recommendations had been implemented. However, rather than getting more resources, many schools will have less, including fewer teachers, next year. Groote Eylandt will suffer a cut of one teacher to each of its three schools, Ramingining a cut of one teacher, Elliott a cut of one teacher; Maningrida a cut of one teacher, Yuendumu a cut of an assistant principal’s position, Kalkarindji a cut of two teachers, Kintore a cut of the teacher linguist position. Doesn’t this prove that you are a fraud, turning your back on the Collins report recommendations and condemning the most disadvantaged group in the Territory to continued under-resourcing and poor education outcomes?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I take issue with just about everything the member said. Most of is simply not true, it is not true.
Let us look at the education budget. It is up; the bottom line is up over $20m. It has gone from $302m to $336m.
With regard to the issue of staffing, every year about this time my department looks at the projected enrolments and works out appropriate staffing according to the formula that has been there for years. They work it out with the teachers and the staff in the schools, what is appropriate to service the number of kids there. Our resources are focused into the schools.
I will quote from the ABC News last Sunday:
Former Labor Senator Bob Collins, who wrote the report Learning Lessons … says he was delighted last week to see a program operating in schools that aims to improve the attendance figures.
‘A substantial number of things have happened. They may not be very obvious to people that are outside, but I commended the Northern Territory Department of Education this morning for the enormous effort they’ve put in the last few months into completely restructuring the delivery of indigenous education to children in the Northern Territory’.
That’s Bob Collins. He said it three days ago.
I will turn to the issue of student services. The budget has actually gone up from $7.67m to …
Mr Stirling: Why are you cutting teacher numbers?
Mr LUGG: We are not cutting teacher numbers at all. He made it up. He made it up, as he did before. Just like you made up that we are going to close all these schools - not true.
Ms Martin: What schools?
Mr LUGG: The last sittings, if you remember, you goose.
Ms Martin: I raised a legitimate question about Darwin High.
Mr LUGG: I gave you the answer and you immediately raised the question again.
Ms Martin: Don’t verbal me.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr LUGG: I have to pay tribute to the Leader of the Opposition. She does a great job of verballing herself.
In terms of student services and the focus of resources into schools, this is improving all the time. We are restructuring the administration side of the department to deliver a better education in schools. The budget is up. Bob Collins publicly praised what we are doing just last Sunday. Wake up, smell the coffee.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I take issue with just about everything the member said. Most of is simply not true, it is not true.
Let us look at the education budget. It is up; the bottom line is up over $20m. It has gone from $302m to $336m.
With regard to the issue of staffing, every year about this time my department looks at the projected enrolments and works out appropriate staffing according to the formula that has been there for years. They work it out with the teachers and the staff in the schools, what is appropriate to service the number of kids there. Our resources are focused into the schools.
I will quote from the ABC News last Sunday:
Former Labor Senator Bob Collins, who wrote the report Learning Lessons … says he was delighted last week to see a program operating in schools that aims to improve the attendance figures.
‘A substantial number of things have happened. They may not be very obvious to people that are outside, but I commended the Northern Territory Department of Education this morning for the enormous effort they’ve put in the last few months into completely restructuring the delivery of indigenous education to children in the Northern Territory’.
That’s Bob Collins. He said it three days ago.
I will turn to the issue of student services. The budget has actually gone up from $7.67m to …
Mr Stirling: Why are you cutting teacher numbers?
Mr LUGG: We are not cutting teacher numbers at all. He made it up. He made it up, as he did before. Just like you made up that we are going to close all these schools - not true.
Ms Martin: What schools?
Mr LUGG: The last sittings, if you remember, you goose.
Ms Martin: I raised a legitimate question about Darwin High.
Mr LUGG: I gave you the answer and you immediately raised the question again.
Ms Martin: Don’t verbal me.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr LUGG: I have to pay tribute to the Leader of the Opposition. She does a great job of verballing herself.
In terms of student services and the focus of resources into schools, this is improving all the time. We are restructuring the administration side of the department to deliver a better education in schools. The budget is up. Bob Collins publicly praised what we are doing just last Sunday. Wake up, smell the coffee.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016