Mr RIOLI - 1996-02-22
I remind the Assembly that the minister is currently misusing a large amount of taxpayers' money on misleading full-page advertisements in his attempt to crush the hardworking teachers of the Territory. These misleading advertisements claim that The Beat
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has been cancelled as a result of industrial action taken by the NT Teaching Service. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table a copy of the Department of Education's Education Bulletin issued just last Friday.
Leave granted.
Mr RIOLI: The bulletin contains a statement by the chairman of The Beat, Dr Harry Payne, who says: `A meeting of the schools decided there would be no Beat in 1996, essentially because the production has become so big that a longer lead time and better preparation are needed'. Does the minister condone lies of this kind being perpetuated in his campaign to crush the teaching service? What sort of example does the minister think he is providing to school students by allowing the lie to be perpetuated in government advertising? Will the minister be printing a full-page apology?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, firstly, the honourable member alleges that I have been misusing government funds. I refute that allegation. I do not regard providing information to the public as a misuse of government funds, but as an appropriate use.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr HATTON: Allow me to finish the answer.
Secondly, the member alleges that I have been misleading through those advertisements. I refute that allegation also.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr HATTON: Will you listen? Thank you.
It is a fact that the trade union listed The Beat as one of the functions it would ban. It was included on its list of bans. It is also true that there are officers of the department and organisers who are of the view that The Beat should not proceed in 1996. I happen to disagree with the department. I have been arguing that there should be a continuation of The Beat in 1996 because I am aware that students, particularly Year 6 and 7 students, look forward each year to participating. It would be really good to be able to concentrate my attention on important educational issues rather than spending all my time talking about dispute action by the union. However, I would hate to see a year when The Beat did not proceed. That is my view. I know that senior departmental people and organisers in the Department of Education are of the view that it should not continue in 1996, but should resume in 1997. I believe the students and the parents would like to see The Beat proceed. I am not prepared at this stage to write off the continuation of The Beat.
Mr Stirling: Don't blame it on the union when it is a departmental decision.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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Mr HATTON: Here he goes again! I did not place it on the list of bans circulated at the beginning of February by the union. It reads: `Activities recommended to be suspended pending resolution of the enterprise bargaining dispute include public performances - Eisteddfod, Rock Eisteddfod, The Beat ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HATTON: You are not listening to me. I do not accept the fact that it is not going ahead. The department has put forward an internal view saying that it does not want it to go ahead. I am telling you that, as minister, I am putting the alternative view. In fact, the last direction I gave to the department was that it will go ahead this year. It is preparing a case to justify to me why it should not.
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has been cancelled as a result of industrial action taken by the NT Teaching Service. Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table a copy of the Department of Education's Education Bulletin issued just last Friday.
Leave granted.
Mr RIOLI: The bulletin contains a statement by the chairman of The Beat, Dr Harry Payne, who says: `A meeting of the schools decided there would be no Beat in 1996, essentially because the production has become so big that a longer lead time and better preparation are needed'. Does the minister condone lies of this kind being perpetuated in his campaign to crush the teaching service? What sort of example does the minister think he is providing to school students by allowing the lie to be perpetuated in government advertising? Will the minister be printing a full-page apology?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, firstly, the honourable member alleges that I have been misusing government funds. I refute that allegation. I do not regard providing information to the public as a misuse of government funds, but as an appropriate use.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr HATTON: Allow me to finish the answer.
Secondly, the member alleges that I have been misleading through those advertisements. I refute that allegation also.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr HATTON: Will you listen? Thank you.
It is a fact that the trade union listed The Beat as one of the functions it would ban. It was included on its list of bans. It is also true that there are officers of the department and organisers who are of the view that The Beat should not proceed in 1996. I happen to disagree with the department. I have been arguing that there should be a continuation of The Beat in 1996 because I am aware that students, particularly Year 6 and 7 students, look forward each year to participating. It would be really good to be able to concentrate my attention on important educational issues rather than spending all my time talking about dispute action by the union. However, I would hate to see a year when The Beat did not proceed. That is my view. I know that senior departmental people and organisers in the Department of Education are of the view that it should not continue in 1996, but should resume in 1997. I believe the students and the parents would like to see The Beat proceed. I am not prepared at this stage to write off the continuation of The Beat.
Mr Stirling: Don't blame it on the union when it is a departmental decision.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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Mr HATTON: Here he goes again! I did not place it on the list of bans circulated at the beginning of February by the union. It reads: `Activities recommended to be suspended pending resolution of the enterprise bargaining dispute include public performances - Eisteddfod, Rock Eisteddfod, The Beat ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HATTON: You are not listening to me. I do not accept the fact that it is not going ahead. The department has put forward an internal view saying that it does not want it to go ahead. I am telling you that, as minister, I am putting the alternative view. In fact, the last direction I gave to the department was that it will go ahead this year. It is preparing a case to justify to me why it should not.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016