Mr FINCH - 1994-11-30
Mr FINCH (Education and Training): Mr Speaker, the member for Barkly raised a question about the Open College in Tennant Creek in last Thursday's adjournment. Some of her outrageous claims about the provision of Open College facilities in Tennant Creek were totally unfounded. She claimed that I had adopted a dismissive attitude to the problems raised by students through the Tennant and District Times. She claimed further that representations to people with the power to do something had fallen either on deaf ears or into the too-hard basket.
For the benefit of the member for Barkly, the facts are as follows. My office received a letter from the disgruntled student and a telephone call from the member's office. By the way, there was a response to the member's office. At that stage, the student had not made a complaint to NTOC. My office sent the letter immediately to the Department of Education for urgent briefing. That matter has been settled in so far as senior NTOC officers have spoken to students who, in general, are happy with the way their course is going. Senior officers from the Centralian College have visited Tennant Creek, a local tutor has been arranged, a weekend workshop is in place and a letter has been sent to the students outlining all of those matters. In other words, the issue has been addressed and resolved by my office. It is simply mischievous for the member for Barkly to say that the problems have not been dealt with properly. Although it is very difficult to deliver education and training to remoter parts of the Territory, the establishment of the open learning network was all about ensuring that the system uses the most appropriate means of delivery. For her now to describe the new system as 'set up to fail' is a disgrace. The member for Barkly's negative attitude is well recognised by members on this side.
Mrs Hickey: At least we got an answer out of you.
Mr FINCH: There are ways of getting answers and ways of getting results, and the member for Barkly knows neither.
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For the benefit of the member for Barkly, the facts are as follows. My office received a letter from the disgruntled student and a telephone call from the member's office. By the way, there was a response to the member's office. At that stage, the student had not made a complaint to NTOC. My office sent the letter immediately to the Department of Education for urgent briefing. That matter has been settled in so far as senior NTOC officers have spoken to students who, in general, are happy with the way their course is going. Senior officers from the Centralian College have visited Tennant Creek, a local tutor has been arranged, a weekend workshop is in place and a letter has been sent to the students outlining all of those matters. In other words, the issue has been addressed and resolved by my office. It is simply mischievous for the member for Barkly to say that the problems have not been dealt with properly. Although it is very difficult to deliver education and training to remoter parts of the Territory, the establishment of the open learning network was all about ensuring that the system uses the most appropriate means of delivery. For her now to describe the new system as 'set up to fail' is a disgrace. The member for Barkly's negative attitude is well recognised by members on this side.
Mrs Hickey: At least we got an answer out of you.
Mr FINCH: There are ways of getting answers and ways of getting results, and the member for Barkly knows neither.
Page 366
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016