Mr HIGGINS - 2013-02-13
The Labor Party has continued to claim that 10% has been carved out of the Territory’s Education budget for 2012-13. This blatant lie has been used to incite fear among Territory families, and upset …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Daly has called it a lie. It is in the minister’s media release for the mini-budget.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr HIGGINS: This blatant lie has been used to incite fear among Territory families and upset their expectations of achieving quality education outcomes at schools. Can you please provide clarification of this outrageous lie?
Members interjecting.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I note the sensitivity of the members opposite. I presume the shadow Education minister, who is currently waving a media release around - apparently his review of the mini-budget is not to read the mini-budget but to read a media release and, moreover, misread it. Perhaps he would like to go back to school. My daughter is doing Lexile at the moment; she could give you a few tips on how to read.
Having looked at this pamphlet, there is a ‘mistake’ - no, lie - in this pamphlet. Here is a picture of a young man, and ‘our children suffer’, according to this pamphlet. I draw the honourable member’s attention to Budget 2012-13 produced by that government for which the Department of Education, et al, received $831m. However, in the mini-budget, if you look at the line items, it is $843m.
This is very curious because, according to the shadow Education minister, that is a 10% cut. Moreover, the economic illiterate who occupies that chair, who would be the educator of our children, would argue we have taken $85m out of Education.
To achieve that, I would have to shut down several high schools and sack hundreds of teachers. Where are the bodies? Where are the closed high schools? It is an outrageous, incomprehensible lie and you stand condemned for your utter failure …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There are cuts occurring at schools right across the Northern Territory. Talk to the Australian Education Union ...
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Please be seated.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, this is the incomprehensible outrageousness of the members opposite. There is not one skerrick of truth in this assertion, but they peddle it anyhow. They proudly announce, ‘We are shoving it into the letterboxes of the people of Wanguri’. You are lying to those people. That is the problem. This is a lie. I have not taken $85m ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Attorney-General to withdraw calling the Treasurer a liar.
Madam SPEAKER: He was not calling the Treasurer a liar, member for Fannie Bay. It was a collective against the party.
Mr ELFERINK: I have not taken $84m. They peddle this nonsense in the most outrageous fashion and they should be ashamed and embarrassed ...
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Daly has called it a lie. It is in the minister’s media release for the mini-budget.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr HIGGINS: This blatant lie has been used to incite fear among Territory families and upset their expectations of achieving quality education outcomes at schools. Can you please provide clarification of this outrageous lie?
Members interjecting.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I note the sensitivity of the members opposite. I presume the shadow Education minister, who is currently waving a media release around - apparently his review of the mini-budget is not to read the mini-budget but to read a media release and, moreover, misread it. Perhaps he would like to go back to school. My daughter is doing Lexile at the moment; she could give you a few tips on how to read.
Having looked at this pamphlet, there is a ‘mistake’ - no, lie - in this pamphlet. Here is a picture of a young man, and ‘our children suffer’, according to this pamphlet. I draw the honourable member’s attention to Budget 2012-13 produced by that government for which the Department of Education, et al, received $831m. However, in the mini-budget, if you look at the line items, it is $843m.
This is very curious because, according to the shadow Education minister, that is a 10% cut. Moreover, the economic illiterate who occupies that chair, who would be the educator of our children, would argue we have taken $85m out of Education.
To achieve that, I would have to shut down several high schools and sack hundreds of teachers. Where are the bodies? Where are the closed high schools? It is an outrageous, incomprehensible lie and you stand condemned for your utter failure …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There are cuts occurring at schools right across the Northern Territory. Talk to the Australian Education Union ...
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Please be seated.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, this is the incomprehensible outrageousness of the members opposite. There is not one skerrick of truth in this assertion, but they peddle it anyhow. They proudly announce, ‘We are shoving it into the letterboxes of the people of Wanguri’. You are lying to those people. That is the problem. This is a lie. I have not taken $85m ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Attorney-General to withdraw calling the Treasurer a liar.
Madam SPEAKER: He was not calling the Treasurer a liar, member for Fannie Bay. It was a collective against the party.
Mr ELFERINK: I have not taken $84m. They peddle this nonsense in the most outrageous fashion and they should be ashamed and embarrassed ...
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016