Opposition questions the Premier's apparent reversal on compulsory school uniforms, given his earlier decision to remove the requirement. The Premier, through a representative, confirms support for the current Minister's move, citing changing community attitudes.

AnsweredQoN 1018Legislative Council
Asked
17 November 2004
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the announcement by the Minister for Education and Training in support of compulsory uniforms in schools. In view of the fact that one of the Premier’s first acts on becoming the Minister for Education in the Lawrence Government was to remove the requirement for compulsory school uniforms - (1) Does the Premier support the move by the Minister for Education and Training? (2) Has he changed his views on compulsory uniforms? (3) Does he now believe his earlier decision on compulsory uniforms to be wrong? (4) Has Cabinet endorsed the move? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am informed in the following terms - (1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
(1) Does the Premier support the move by the Minister for Education and Training? (2) Has he changed his views on compulsory uniforms? (3) Does he now believe his earlier decision on compulsory uniforms to be wrong? (4) Has Cabinet endorsed the move? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am informed in the following terms - (1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
(2) Has he changed his views on compulsory uniforms? (3) Does he now believe his earlier decision on compulsory uniforms to be wrong? (4) Has Cabinet endorsed the move? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am informed in the following terms - (1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
(3) Does he now believe his earlier decision on compulsory uniforms to be wrong? (4) Has Cabinet endorsed the move? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am informed in the following terms - (1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
(4) Has Cabinet endorsed the move? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am informed in the following terms - (1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am informed in the following terms - (1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am informed in the following terms - (1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
(1) Yes. (2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
(2)-(4) Community attitudes appear to have changed over the past decade. Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
Hon Ken Travers: Even ABC reporters wear uniforms these days. Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
Hon Peter Foss: Whatever the community wants, he wants. Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.
Hon KIM CHANCE: Just when members think things will stay the same. The minister is currently testing opinion on the issue in the interest of uplifting the status of government schools. I am sure that all members agree with that.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more