Mr WOOD - 2012-11-29
It is interesting in light of the fact there has just been an announcement for school vouchers for both government and non-government schools.
Yesterday, your Treasurer announced independent non-government schools would not receive the 15% subsidy to help lessen the impact of increased tariffs for essential services but it would be received by government schools. The Treasurer said these schools are privately run and, like any private business, these tariff increases will have to be absorbed into the business plans.
As ex-principal of Palmerston Christian School, do you agree with the views of your Treasurer? If you believe these non-government schools are private businesses and will be treated differently than government schools, do you intend to require children attending these private businesses to pay a daily fee for travelling on the usually free government buses, or will your government treat all schools, parents, and children as equal Territorians and allow the same subsidies for all schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his very important question. Of course, choice in education is vital and respected by the Country Liberal Party, as respected by the previous government. The Country Liberal Party has a proud tradition of supporting choice in education.
With regard to the question which arises from comments made yesterday, then runs wildly without being thoroughly assessed or able to be weighed in the context of a mini-budget announcement next week, I do not intend to go any further in making commentary. I ask you to wait until the mini-budget has been announced because it would be improper for announcements to be made and details around the thrust …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question was: do you agree with the Treasurer’s statement that the schools are private businesses and do you agree those non-government schools should pay a different tariff than government schools?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr MILLS: I understand when a school community, a body of parents, supports an independent school they also support that independent school through the payment of school fees. That is acknowledged, and it is a significant contribution to the delivery of education in the Northern Territory.
The context of the response made by the Minister for Education was not directly attributing to the nature and quality of independent education, but more a thrust of the question which was asked by the member for Fannie Bay.
The details of this will be outlined in the mini-budget. Of course we recognise the value of independent education, the role that parents play, and the support of parents who are involved in supporting private education …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question is: does the minister agree that non-government schools should not have the subsidy government schools are receiving? That is the simple question.
Mr MILLS: What I am trying to tell you, respectfully, is that when a school chooses to be independent, it then takes additional responsibilities for the decision is has made - decisions which are carried out at the family level and have to be played out in managing that school environment in fees that are set and being managed ...
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is not being answered. We have run out of time and that was deliberate.
Mr MILLS: No, it was not deliberate.
Madam SPEAKER: Time has expired.
Yesterday, your Treasurer announced independent non-government schools would not receive the 15% subsidy to help lessen the impact of increased tariffs for essential services but it would be received by government schools. The Treasurer said these schools are privately run and, like any private business, these tariff increases will have to be absorbed into the business plans.
As ex-principal of Palmerston Christian School, do you agree with the views of your Treasurer? If you believe these non-government schools are private businesses and will be treated differently than government schools, do you intend to require children attending these private businesses to pay a daily fee for travelling on the usually free government buses, or will your government treat all schools, parents, and children as equal Territorians and allow the same subsidies for all schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his very important question. Of course, choice in education is vital and respected by the Country Liberal Party, as respected by the previous government. The Country Liberal Party has a proud tradition of supporting choice in education.
With regard to the question which arises from comments made yesterday, then runs wildly without being thoroughly assessed or able to be weighed in the context of a mini-budget announcement next week, I do not intend to go any further in making commentary. I ask you to wait until the mini-budget has been announced because it would be improper for announcements to be made and details around the thrust …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question was: do you agree with the Treasurer’s statement that the schools are private businesses and do you agree those non-government schools should pay a different tariff than government schools?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr MILLS: I understand when a school community, a body of parents, supports an independent school they also support that independent school through the payment of school fees. That is acknowledged, and it is a significant contribution to the delivery of education in the Northern Territory.
The context of the response made by the Minister for Education was not directly attributing to the nature and quality of independent education, but more a thrust of the question which was asked by the member for Fannie Bay.
The details of this will be outlined in the mini-budget. Of course we recognise the value of independent education, the role that parents play, and the support of parents who are involved in supporting private education …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question is: does the minister agree that non-government schools should not have the subsidy government schools are receiving? That is the simple question.
Mr MILLS: What I am trying to tell you, respectfully, is that when a school chooses to be independent, it then takes additional responsibilities for the decision is has made - decisions which are carried out at the family level and have to be played out in managing that school environment in fees that are set and being managed ...
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is not being answered. We have run out of time and that was deliberate.
Mr MILLS: No, it was not deliberate.
Madam SPEAKER: Time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016