Mr GUNNER - 2012-12-05
You are cutting the education budget by 10%. We have been told Casuarina Senior College has been required to cut six full-time equivalent teaching positions from its staffing roster. You said you want to improve literacy and numeracy. How will cutting six positions at Casuarina Senior College help improve education and, if teachers are not considered front line, who is?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. A 10% reduction in the education budget - have you read the budget books member for Fannie Bay? That is just not true. I heard it from the Opposition Leader yesterday. I heard it on Channel 7 last night when I got home. Where are people getting these figures from? They obviously cannot read the budget papers. There is not a 10% decrease in the education budget. It is simply not true ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance - the six positions at Casuarina Senor College.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, if what I am saying is not relevant then why did he ask the question in the first place?
The May 2012-13 budget for education was $831m. For this mini-budget covering 2012-13, the budget for education is $843m. There is an increase of $12m in the education budget for the rest of this financial year. The member for Fannie Bay must get his figures from fairyland ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In the media lock-up yesterday they were briefed there would be a 10% cut to education over this term. Are you saying what the media was told in the lock-up is wrong?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, member for Fannie Bay.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is irrelevant.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Given no one from government addressed the lock-up, I do not know who he is referring to. However, he has reasonable literacy and numeracy skills; he was well educated in the Northern Territory ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It shows a reduction in middle years education and non-government education. It shows a reduction in international education. It shows a reduction in Territory education. Read your own mini-budget ...
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, be seated!
Mr Tollner: Kick her out!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, you are on a warning. Deputy Chief Minister.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I appreciate the need for the Leader of the Opposition to step in and help the member for Fannie Bay. It must be deeply embarrassing when your shadow ministers cannot even read basic figures like, ‘Gee, there is an increase from $831m to $843m’. There is no question from the member for Fannie Bay; he does not know what he is talking about. He needs to look at the budget papers, maybe get a briefing, maybe get some help from someone externally who knows how to read these things, before he stands in parliament and makes a goose of himself.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. A 10% reduction in the education budget - have you read the budget books member for Fannie Bay? That is just not true. I heard it from the Opposition Leader yesterday. I heard it on Channel 7 last night when I got home. Where are people getting these figures from? They obviously cannot read the budget papers. There is not a 10% decrease in the education budget. It is simply not true ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance - the six positions at Casuarina Senor College.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, if what I am saying is not relevant then why did he ask the question in the first place?
The May 2012-13 budget for education was $831m. For this mini-budget covering 2012-13, the budget for education is $843m. There is an increase of $12m in the education budget for the rest of this financial year. The member for Fannie Bay must get his figures from fairyland ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In the media lock-up yesterday they were briefed there would be a 10% cut to education over this term. Are you saying what the media was told in the lock-up is wrong?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, member for Fannie Bay.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is irrelevant.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Given no one from government addressed the lock-up, I do not know who he is referring to. However, he has reasonable literacy and numeracy skills; he was well educated in the Northern Territory ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It shows a reduction in middle years education and non-government education. It shows a reduction in international education. It shows a reduction in Territory education. Read your own mini-budget ...
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, be seated!
Mr Tollner: Kick her out!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, you are on a warning. Deputy Chief Minister.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I appreciate the need for the Leader of the Opposition to step in and help the member for Fannie Bay. It must be deeply embarrassing when your shadow ministers cannot even read basic figures like, ‘Gee, there is an increase from $831m to $843m’. There is no question from the member for Fannie Bay; he does not know what he is talking about. He needs to look at the budget papers, maybe get a briefing, maybe get some help from someone externally who knows how to read these things, before he stands in parliament and makes a goose of himself.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016