Mr GUNNER - 2012-12-06
Yesterday I asked about the removal of six teachers from Casuarina Senior College and you did not provide an answer. We have now had it confirmed that this teacher cut back will mean that Casuarina Senior College will offer eight fewer subjects next year. How is cutting teachers and subjects not cutting the front line?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for this question. I am almost in a state of shock that he could bring forward for me to yet again emphasise how misled and misinformed he is. Yesterday in parliament, the member for Fannie Bay said, ‘You are cutting the education budget by 10%’. That is not true, member for Fannie Bay. You got it wrong again ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am happy to seek leave to table the minister’s media release that identifies the 10%.
Leave granted.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I think you will find, member for Fannie Bay, that my media release did not say there was a ‘cutting of the education budget by 10%’, but there was 10% in savings. When you go through the budgetary process you identify savings, commitments, and revenue. He has absolutely no idea ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was there have been six teachers lost from Casuarina and eight subjects cut. Cutting services and teachers is cutting the front line ...
Mr Vatskalis: No, it is savings.
Mr GUNNER: Savings. The question was about the six teachers and the eight subjects.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could get to the point.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The member for Fannie Bay is scaremongering. What is happening at the Casuarina Senior College has nothing to do with the mini-budget and this government. That college has an estimated reduction in enrolments of around 100 students for next year. The reduction in their teaching levels is contingent upon their enrolment figures. Scaremongering! Shame on you ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If it has nothing to do with the government and you are the Minister for Education, will you provide six teachers to Casuarina to keep eight subjects?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated. Opposition Leader, you are on a warning. One more frivolous comment like that and you will be asked to leave the Chamber.
Mr Tollner: How many more does she have to make?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I take that as a reflection on the Speaker. You are on a warning. Deputy Chief Minister.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, the Casuarina Senior College is facing difficult times. Their enrolment figures look like being lower than the years before - down by approximately 100 students. That is why Casuarina Senior College is looking at reducing their staffing levels, no other reason ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The CLP has changed the staffing ratio formula for attendance and enrolment. I am asking her to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister is getting to the question.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I have answered the question. The member for Fannie Bay is misleading this parliament, is scaremongering and misleading the people of the Northern Territory ...
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51:
I also said at the beginning of this sittings, if not the beginning of parliament, that I would only tolerate one person on their feet at a time. Member for Wanguri, you have a point of order?
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Treasurer well knows she cannot accuse a member of misleading this House unless she does it by way of substantive motion. I call on her to withdraw.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. The information he is providing is incorrect.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for this question. I am almost in a state of shock that he could bring forward for me to yet again emphasise how misled and misinformed he is. Yesterday in parliament, the member for Fannie Bay said, ‘You are cutting the education budget by 10%’. That is not true, member for Fannie Bay. You got it wrong again ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am happy to seek leave to table the minister’s media release that identifies the 10%.
Leave granted.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I think you will find, member for Fannie Bay, that my media release did not say there was a ‘cutting of the education budget by 10%’, but there was 10% in savings. When you go through the budgetary process you identify savings, commitments, and revenue. He has absolutely no idea ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was there have been six teachers lost from Casuarina and eight subjects cut. Cutting services and teachers is cutting the front line ...
Mr Vatskalis: No, it is savings.
Mr GUNNER: Savings. The question was about the six teachers and the eight subjects.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could get to the point.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The member for Fannie Bay is scaremongering. What is happening at the Casuarina Senior College has nothing to do with the mini-budget and this government. That college has an estimated reduction in enrolments of around 100 students for next year. The reduction in their teaching levels is contingent upon their enrolment figures. Scaremongering! Shame on you ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If it has nothing to do with the government and you are the Minister for Education, will you provide six teachers to Casuarina to keep eight subjects?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated. Opposition Leader, you are on a warning. One more frivolous comment like that and you will be asked to leave the Chamber.
Mr Tollner: How many more does she have to make?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I take that as a reflection on the Speaker. You are on a warning. Deputy Chief Minister.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, the Casuarina Senior College is facing difficult times. Their enrolment figures look like being lower than the years before - down by approximately 100 students. That is why Casuarina Senior College is looking at reducing their staffing levels, no other reason ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The CLP has changed the staffing ratio formula for attendance and enrolment. I am asking her to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister is getting to the question.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I have answered the question. The member for Fannie Bay is misleading this parliament, is scaremongering and misleading the people of the Northern Territory ...
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member shall converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
I also said at the beginning of this sittings, if not the beginning of parliament, that I would only tolerate one person on their feet at a time. Member for Wanguri, you have a point of order?
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Treasurer well knows she cannot accuse a member of misleading this House unless she does it by way of substantive motion. I call on her to withdraw.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. The information he is providing is incorrect.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016