Mr WOOD - 2010-08-11
In relation to the education of children of the asylum seekers in schools in Darwin, is it correct the Commonwealth Department of Immigration has given the Northern Territory government funds to employ English as a Second Language teachers to teach these children? Is it true your department still has not employed these teachers? If that is the case, can you explain why there has been a delay?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It was in the media a number of weeks ago about discussions my department is having with the Commonwealth department on this issue involving about 60 asylum seeker children. It was said then by departmental spokesmen it would take some time to reach agreement on this issue.
The target date I have is October 2010. Teachers will have to be employed and, probably, some specialist teachers amongst them. However, I can give the guarantee, as the department did, there will be no funds flowing out of the Northern Territory education budget in the education of these children, which I support wholeheartedly. All expenses will be met by the Commonwealth. No Northern Territory child will go without because of this particular plan. There is a lot of detail in there. We are cooperating with the department of Immigration.
As you would also be aware, we are going through a caretaker phase through the federal election. That has probably slowed things a little. The date I have to have this up and running is October.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It was in the media a number of weeks ago about discussions my department is having with the Commonwealth department on this issue involving about 60 asylum seeker children. It was said then by departmental spokesmen it would take some time to reach agreement on this issue.
The target date I have is October 2010. Teachers will have to be employed and, probably, some specialist teachers amongst them. However, I can give the guarantee, as the department did, there will be no funds flowing out of the Northern Territory education budget in the education of these children, which I support wholeheartedly. All expenses will be met by the Commonwealth. No Northern Territory child will go without because of this particular plan. There is a lot of detail in there. We are cooperating with the department of Immigration.
As you would also be aware, we are going through a caretaker phase through the federal election. That has probably slowed things a little. The date I have to have this up and running is October.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016