❓ Mr. Dean asks about the government's achievements in education. Premier Gallop highlights increased funding, improved programs, and a commitment to public schools, while defending against opposition criticism regarding private schools and past performance.
AnsweredQoN 513Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Given my background and interest in education, will the Premier provide me and the House with an update of the Government’s achievement in education? Mr P.D. Omodei: It must be good news! Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
It is very good news. There are three important aspects to the Labor Government’s commitment to education. First, this side of the House believes in public schools. Second, we have a strategy to uplift the performance of our public schools. Third, we provide the resources to back that up. When the Minister for Education and Training assumed his position in February 2001, there was enormous disarray in the government education system, which he has turned around. The Government has implemented behaviour management and discipline programs and excellent literacy and numeracy programs and it has reduced class sizes for children in their early years of education. It has funded new technology in the classrooms and, most importantly - this is recognised by the disability industry in this State - it has funded those students in our system with disabilities who need special assistance. I was very proud to announce that commitment along with the Minister for Disability Services earlier this year. We have real strategies to upgrade our public schools because the Minister for Education and Training and this Government have a passion for and commitment to our public schools. I now turn to our resources. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr P.D. Omodei: It must be good news! Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: It is very good news. There are three important aspects to the Labor Government’s commitment to education. First, this side of the House believes in public schools. Second, we have a strategy to uplift the performance of our public schools. Third, we provide the resources to back that up. When the Minister for Education and Training assumed his position in February 2001, there was enormous disarray in the government education system, which he has turned around. The Government has implemented behaviour management and discipline programs and excellent literacy and numeracy programs and it has reduced class sizes for children in their early years of education. It has funded new technology in the classrooms and, most importantly - this is recognised by the disability industry in this State - it has funded those students in our system with disabilities who need special assistance. I was very proud to announce that commitment along with the Minister for Disability Services earlier this year. We have real strategies to upgrade our public schools because the Minister for Education and Training and this Government have a passion for and commitment to our public schools. I now turn to our resources. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: It is very good news. There are three important aspects to the Labor Government’s commitment to education. First, this side of the House believes in public schools. Second, we have a strategy to uplift the performance of our public schools. Third, we provide the resources to back that up. When the Minister for Education and Training assumed his position in February 2001, there was enormous disarray in the government education system, which he has turned around. The Government has implemented behaviour management and discipline programs and excellent literacy and numeracy programs and it has reduced class sizes for children in their early years of education. It has funded new technology in the classrooms and, most importantly - this is recognised by the disability industry in this State - it has funded those students in our system with disabilities who need special assistance. I was very proud to announce that commitment along with the Minister for Disability Services earlier this year. We have real strategies to upgrade our public schools because the Minister for Education and Training and this Government have a passion for and commitment to our public schools. I now turn to our resources. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
It is very good news. There are three important aspects to the Labor Government’s commitment to education. First, this side of the House believes in public schools. Second, we have a strategy to uplift the performance of our public schools. Third, we provide the resources to back that up. When the Minister for Education and Training assumed his position in February 2001, there was enormous disarray in the government education system, which he has turned around. The Government has implemented behaviour management and discipline programs and excellent literacy and numeracy programs and it has reduced class sizes for children in their early years of education. It has funded new technology in the classrooms and, most importantly - this is recognised by the disability industry in this State - it has funded those students in our system with disabilities who need special assistance. I was very proud to announce that commitment along with the Minister for Disability Services earlier this year. We have real strategies to upgrade our public schools because the Minister for Education and Training and this Government have a passion for and commitment to our public schools. I now turn to our resources. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr P.D. Omodei: It must be good news! Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: It is very good news. There are three important aspects to the Labor Government’s commitment to education. First, this side of the House believes in public schools. Second, we have a strategy to uplift the performance of our public schools. Third, we provide the resources to back that up. When the Minister for Education and Training assumed his position in February 2001, there was enormous disarray in the government education system, which he has turned around. The Government has implemented behaviour management and discipline programs and excellent literacy and numeracy programs and it has reduced class sizes for children in their early years of education. It has funded new technology in the classrooms and, most importantly - this is recognised by the disability industry in this State - it has funded those students in our system with disabilities who need special assistance. I was very proud to announce that commitment along with the Minister for Disability Services earlier this year. We have real strategies to upgrade our public schools because the Minister for Education and Training and this Government have a passion for and commitment to our public schools. I now turn to our resources. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: It is very good news. There are three important aspects to the Labor Government’s commitment to education. First, this side of the House believes in public schools. Second, we have a strategy to uplift the performance of our public schools. Third, we provide the resources to back that up. When the Minister for Education and Training assumed his position in February 2001, there was enormous disarray in the government education system, which he has turned around. The Government has implemented behaviour management and discipline programs and excellent literacy and numeracy programs and it has reduced class sizes for children in their early years of education. It has funded new technology in the classrooms and, most importantly - this is recognised by the disability industry in this State - it has funded those students in our system with disabilities who need special assistance. I was very proud to announce that commitment along with the Minister for Disability Services earlier this year. We have real strategies to upgrade our public schools because the Minister for Education and Training and this Government have a passion for and commitment to our public schools. I now turn to our resources. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
It is very good news. There are three important aspects to the Labor Government’s commitment to education. First, this side of the House believes in public schools. Second, we have a strategy to uplift the performance of our public schools. Third, we provide the resources to back that up. When the Minister for Education and Training assumed his position in February 2001, there was enormous disarray in the government education system, which he has turned around. The Government has implemented behaviour management and discipline programs and excellent literacy and numeracy programs and it has reduced class sizes for children in their early years of education. It has funded new technology in the classrooms and, most importantly - this is recognised by the disability industry in this State - it has funded those students in our system with disabilities who need special assistance. I was very proud to announce that commitment along with the Minister for Disability Services earlier this year. We have real strategies to upgrade our public schools because the Minister for Education and Training and this Government have a passion for and commitment to our public schools. I now turn to our resources. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Why do you hate private and Catholic schools? Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The fact that we have a passion for and commitment to public schools makes no statement whatsoever about our belief in a person’s right to choose the type of education they want. Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Why did you say that then? Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Because our public schools are the prime responsibility of the Government of Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition failed when he was the Minister for Education. The Leader of the Opposition misses the point. Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Several opposition members interjected. The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
The SPEAKER: I call to order the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Nedlands. Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Liberal Party misses the point. Unless the State has a strong public education system, society will miss out. Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: That’s why the previous Government funded the education system so well. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Did it? This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
This Government recently announced a major and unprecedented commitment of $65 million to remove the maintenance backlog throughout the state system. Since coming to office we have employed an extra 924 teachers and we are spending an additional $1.5 billion in education, compared with the last four years of the coalition Government. That is an extra 27 per cent. However, there is more to be done. We have started to turn around the declining retention rates that we saw under the Liberals. It was a disgrace. When we came to government, the Liberals had so little care for education that retention rates in years 11 and 12 were declining. So little did they care, Mr Speaker - Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. Barnett: What a dishonest Premier you are. Withdrawal of Remark Mr J.C. KOBELKE: The interjection by the Leader of the Opposition to the Premier calling him dishonest is simply unparliamentary, and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
The SPEAKER: That is unparliamentary, and I direct the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Mr C.J. BARNETT: I withdraw. Debate Resumed Dr G.I. GALLOP: They did not have the passion for or the belief in education. Therefore, retention rates were going down. Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
Our view is this: if young people are to succeed in our society today, they need a level of education to be able to contribute to our economy and our society. The notion that people leave school before they are aged 16 and 17 without the level of education that they need today is a scandal. Labor will change that. We have a vision for the future of education - it has been outlined by the Minister for Education and Training - to raise the school leaving ages to 16 and 17 so that every student who leaves school has the capacity to contribute to our economy and our society. Make no mistake: education will be a big issue at the next state election. We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
We have shown that we have a commitment to the government school system. We have shown that we have the commitment and the strategy to bring about the improvement in that system that is being sought by the public. Thirdly, we will put in the resources to back it up. We will go further and make sure that every young Western Australian has the capacity, the skills and the education to contribute to our society. The attitude of the Liberals has been revealed by way of their interjections. Let us bring on the debate. We are very happy to have it. The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
The SPEAKER: I call to order the member for Nedlands and the member for Warren-Blackwood.
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