Mr BAILEY - 1996-02-22
Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table a directive issued by the Secretary of the Department of Education, banning the use of school equipment for union purposes without first obtaining the official approval of the departmental secretary.
Leave granted.
Mr BAILEY: Most Territory schools have a stock of equipment that has been bought and paid for with school council funds. On exactly what basis do the minister and his department award themselves the right to dictate to schools how they should use their own equipment? Moreover, if this directive is meant to apply to equipment that has been paid for from parents' moneys, how does this fit into the CLP government's policy of devolution and school control? Is any school refusing to comply with this directive on the use of school council equipment and, if so, will the minister be singling out school councils for even harsher measures?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it really is a very difficult thing we are doing, isn't it? We are telling the unions to obey the rules.
Members interjecting.
Page 1203
Mr HATTON: They cannot stop chattering, can they?
Mr Ede: You keep telling lies.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that.
Mr Ede: Mr Speaker, I withdraw.
Mr HATTON: There is no question that some equipment in schools belongs to the school councils.
Mr Bailey: It is a single-line budget. School councils decide what they do with it.
Mr HATTON: That is right. Some of it was bought with government money. Some of it was bought using funds raised through their own activities and belongs to the school councils. That is true. However, you cannot use a telephone, fax machine or photocopier without using government resources if it is situated in a government office, using government electricity. We have examined this question. We are not threatening any school council.
Ms Martin: They just think you are, that is all.
Mr HATTON: That is probably because you are running around telling them that. The teachers' union is probably running around telling them that too. We are not threatening any school council. We are trying to support the parents. We are trying to ensure that the students continue to receive a decent education. We are trying to support those hard-working, honest, professional teachers who are not prepared to sacrifice the quality of education of their students in this harassing attack on student education for the purpose of negotiating over wages and conditions. We are not attacking school councils. Do not go around saying that because, if you do, you will be lying. I will be happy to provide the details of this matter because it has been addressed. However, I do not happen to have those details in front of me at this moment.
While I am on my feet, I would like to refer back to the previous question relating to The Beat. I happen to think that, particularly for primary school students, and probably many secondary school students, The Beat has become part of their cultural tradition in Darwin. It is one of those annual events that people look forward to. I know this debate is occurring in the department. People say that The Beat has become so big and so lavish that it takes much longer to organise. Even if the lavishness were cut back and The Beat was presented as it used to be, that would be preferable to ceasing it altogether. While I am looking at and debating this issue, I invite students from across the Territory, particularly those in and around the Darwin area, to write to me and give me their views on whether we should ensure that The Beat goes ahead in 1996, or whether we should hold off for a year and have a really big event
in 1997.
Page 1204
Leave granted.
Mr BAILEY: Most Territory schools have a stock of equipment that has been bought and paid for with school council funds. On exactly what basis do the minister and his department award themselves the right to dictate to schools how they should use their own equipment? Moreover, if this directive is meant to apply to equipment that has been paid for from parents' moneys, how does this fit into the CLP government's policy of devolution and school control? Is any school refusing to comply with this directive on the use of school council equipment and, if so, will the minister be singling out school councils for even harsher measures?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it really is a very difficult thing we are doing, isn't it? We are telling the unions to obey the rules.
Members interjecting.
Page 1203
Mr HATTON: They cannot stop chattering, can they?
Mr Ede: You keep telling lies.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that.
Mr Ede: Mr Speaker, I withdraw.
Mr HATTON: There is no question that some equipment in schools belongs to the school councils.
Mr Bailey: It is a single-line budget. School councils decide what they do with it.
Mr HATTON: That is right. Some of it was bought with government money. Some of it was bought using funds raised through their own activities and belongs to the school councils. That is true. However, you cannot use a telephone, fax machine or photocopier without using government resources if it is situated in a government office, using government electricity. We have examined this question. We are not threatening any school council.
Ms Martin: They just think you are, that is all.
Mr HATTON: That is probably because you are running around telling them that. The teachers' union is probably running around telling them that too. We are not threatening any school council. We are trying to support the parents. We are trying to ensure that the students continue to receive a decent education. We are trying to support those hard-working, honest, professional teachers who are not prepared to sacrifice the quality of education of their students in this harassing attack on student education for the purpose of negotiating over wages and conditions. We are not attacking school councils. Do not go around saying that because, if you do, you will be lying. I will be happy to provide the details of this matter because it has been addressed. However, I do not happen to have those details in front of me at this moment.
While I am on my feet, I would like to refer back to the previous question relating to The Beat. I happen to think that, particularly for primary school students, and probably many secondary school students, The Beat has become part of their cultural tradition in Darwin. It is one of those annual events that people look forward to. I know this debate is occurring in the department. People say that The Beat has become so big and so lavish that it takes much longer to organise. Even if the lavishness were cut back and The Beat was presented as it used to be, that would be preferable to ceasing it altogether. While I am looking at and debating this issue, I invite students from across the Territory, particularly those in and around the Darwin area, to write to me and give me their views on whether we should ensure that The Beat goes ahead in 1996, or whether we should hold off for a year and have a really big event
in 1997.
Page 1204
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016