❓ The Premier outlines the government's plan to raise the school-leaving age and criticises the federal government's attempts to influence state education policy through funding conditions, arguing it undermines federalism.
AnsweredQoN 396Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Premier outline the state government’s latest measures to improve the state of education in Western Australia? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
When I visited Shenton College earlier today I was very pleased to announce that the government will be introducing legislation to raise the school-leaving age. The legislation is the biggest step forward in education in this state in many decades and will ensure that our kids have a better start in life through education or training. It also represents one of those important stages in the development of our education system in Western Australia; namely, community expectation about what we want our students to achieve so that they can contribute to the community and take up the opportunities that currently exist. I am very proud of the fact that my government is introducing legislation that will raise the school-leaving age. It is timely legislation because it deals with 16 and 17-year-olds who must have the skills that are being sought by Western Australian industry as a result of the state’s very strong economy. Unlike the federal government, we do not use education as a political football. The commonwealth government is threatening to withhold up to $400 million in crucial training funding if we do not adhere to its industrial relations demands. Let me make the situation absolutely clear: the federal government makes a contribution to the Western Australian education and training system. On the basis of that contribution, it is saying that we should pursue a particular policy. Every member of this Parliament, no matter what political party he or she represents, should be seriously concerned about the principle that underlies what the commonwealth is doing. In the 2001 and 2005 Western Australian elections, the Labor Party was elected to govern according to the philosophy, platform and programs put to the people of this state and with the powers and responsibilities given to state governments. If the commonwealth government can tell state governments what to do on the basis of the money that it contributes - despite their election platforms and policies and what happened in the election campaign - we will no longer have a federal system. This issue is of the utmost importance for the future of our country. The federal government is trying to turn democratically elected state Labor governments into branches of the federal Liberal Party. The Labor Party went to the last election and it won that election. I expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to respect that result, just as they can quite properly expect us to respect the result at the national level. Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: When I visited Shenton College earlier today I was very pleased to announce that the government will be introducing legislation to raise the school-leaving age. The legislation is the biggest step forward in education in this state in many decades and will ensure that our kids have a better start in life through education or training. It also represents one of those important stages in the development of our education system in Western Australia; namely, community expectation about what we want our students to achieve so that they can contribute to the community and take up the opportunities that currently exist. I am very proud of the fact that my government is introducing legislation that will raise the school-leaving age. It is timely legislation because it deals with 16 and 17-year-olds who must have the skills that are being sought by Western Australian industry as a result of the state’s very strong economy. Unlike the federal government, we do not use education as a political football. The commonwealth government is threatening to withhold up to $400 million in crucial training funding if we do not adhere to its industrial relations demands. Let me make the situation absolutely clear: the federal government makes a contribution to the Western Australian education and training system. On the basis of that contribution, it is saying that we should pursue a particular policy. Every member of this Parliament, no matter what political party he or she represents, should be seriously concerned about the principle that underlies what the commonwealth is doing. In the 2001 and 2005 Western Australian elections, the Labor Party was elected to govern according to the philosophy, platform and programs put to the people of this state and with the powers and responsibilities given to state governments. If the commonwealth government can tell state governments what to do on the basis of the money that it contributes - despite their election platforms and policies and what happened in the election campaign - we will no longer have a federal system. This issue is of the utmost importance for the future of our country. The federal government is trying to turn democratically elected state Labor governments into branches of the federal Liberal Party. The Labor Party went to the last election and it won that election. I expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to respect that result, just as they can quite properly expect us to respect the result at the national level. Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
When I visited Shenton College earlier today I was very pleased to announce that the government will be introducing legislation to raise the school-leaving age. The legislation is the biggest step forward in education in this state in many decades and will ensure that our kids have a better start in life through education or training. It also represents one of those important stages in the development of our education system in Western Australia; namely, community expectation about what we want our students to achieve so that they can contribute to the community and take up the opportunities that currently exist. I am very proud of the fact that my government is introducing legislation that will raise the school-leaving age. It is timely legislation because it deals with 16 and 17-year-olds who must have the skills that are being sought by Western Australian industry as a result of the state’s very strong economy. Unlike the federal government, we do not use education as a political football. The commonwealth government is threatening to withhold up to $400 million in crucial training funding if we do not adhere to its industrial relations demands. Let me make the situation absolutely clear: the federal government makes a contribution to the Western Australian education and training system. On the basis of that contribution, it is saying that we should pursue a particular policy. Every member of this Parliament, no matter what political party he or she represents, should be seriously concerned about the principle that underlies what the commonwealth is doing. In the 2001 and 2005 Western Australian elections, the Labor Party was elected to govern according to the philosophy, platform and programs put to the people of this state and with the powers and responsibilities given to state governments. If the commonwealth government can tell state governments what to do on the basis of the money that it contributes - despite their election platforms and policies and what happened in the election campaign - we will no longer have a federal system. This issue is of the utmost importance for the future of our country. The federal government is trying to turn democratically elected state Labor governments into branches of the federal Liberal Party. The Labor Party went to the last election and it won that election. I expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to respect that result, just as they can quite properly expect us to respect the result at the national level. Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
The commonwealth government is threatening to withhold up to $400 million in crucial training funding if we do not adhere to its industrial relations demands. Let me make the situation absolutely clear: the federal government makes a contribution to the Western Australian education and training system. On the basis of that contribution, it is saying that we should pursue a particular policy. Every member of this Parliament, no matter what political party he or she represents, should be seriously concerned about the principle that underlies what the commonwealth is doing. In the 2001 and 2005 Western Australian elections, the Labor Party was elected to govern according to the philosophy, platform and programs put to the people of this state and with the powers and responsibilities given to state governments. If the commonwealth government can tell state governments what to do on the basis of the money that it contributes - despite their election platforms and policies and what happened in the election campaign - we will no longer have a federal system. This issue is of the utmost importance for the future of our country. The federal government is trying to turn democratically elected state Labor governments into branches of the federal Liberal Party. The Labor Party went to the last election and it won that election. I expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to respect that result, just as they can quite properly expect us to respect the result at the national level. Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: When I visited Shenton College earlier today I was very pleased to announce that the government will be introducing legislation to raise the school-leaving age. The legislation is the biggest step forward in education in this state in many decades and will ensure that our kids have a better start in life through education or training. It also represents one of those important stages in the development of our education system in Western Australia; namely, community expectation about what we want our students to achieve so that they can contribute to the community and take up the opportunities that currently exist. I am very proud of the fact that my government is introducing legislation that will raise the school-leaving age. It is timely legislation because it deals with 16 and 17-year-olds who must have the skills that are being sought by Western Australian industry as a result of the state’s very strong economy. Unlike the federal government, we do not use education as a political football. The commonwealth government is threatening to withhold up to $400 million in crucial training funding if we do not adhere to its industrial relations demands. Let me make the situation absolutely clear: the federal government makes a contribution to the Western Australian education and training system. On the basis of that contribution, it is saying that we should pursue a particular policy. Every member of this Parliament, no matter what political party he or she represents, should be seriously concerned about the principle that underlies what the commonwealth is doing. In the 2001 and 2005 Western Australian elections, the Labor Party was elected to govern according to the philosophy, platform and programs put to the people of this state and with the powers and responsibilities given to state governments. If the commonwealth government can tell state governments what to do on the basis of the money that it contributes - despite their election platforms and policies and what happened in the election campaign - we will no longer have a federal system. This issue is of the utmost importance for the future of our country. The federal government is trying to turn democratically elected state Labor governments into branches of the federal Liberal Party. The Labor Party went to the last election and it won that election. I expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to respect that result, just as they can quite properly expect us to respect the result at the national level. Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
When I visited Shenton College earlier today I was very pleased to announce that the government will be introducing legislation to raise the school-leaving age. The legislation is the biggest step forward in education in this state in many decades and will ensure that our kids have a better start in life through education or training. It also represents one of those important stages in the development of our education system in Western Australia; namely, community expectation about what we want our students to achieve so that they can contribute to the community and take up the opportunities that currently exist. I am very proud of the fact that my government is introducing legislation that will raise the school-leaving age. It is timely legislation because it deals with 16 and 17-year-olds who must have the skills that are being sought by Western Australian industry as a result of the state’s very strong economy. Unlike the federal government, we do not use education as a political football. The commonwealth government is threatening to withhold up to $400 million in crucial training funding if we do not adhere to its industrial relations demands. Let me make the situation absolutely clear: the federal government makes a contribution to the Western Australian education and training system. On the basis of that contribution, it is saying that we should pursue a particular policy. Every member of this Parliament, no matter what political party he or she represents, should be seriously concerned about the principle that underlies what the commonwealth is doing. In the 2001 and 2005 Western Australian elections, the Labor Party was elected to govern according to the philosophy, platform and programs put to the people of this state and with the powers and responsibilities given to state governments. If the commonwealth government can tell state governments what to do on the basis of the money that it contributes - despite their election platforms and policies and what happened in the election campaign - we will no longer have a federal system. This issue is of the utmost importance for the future of our country. The federal government is trying to turn democratically elected state Labor governments into branches of the federal Liberal Party. The Labor Party went to the last election and it won that election. I expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to respect that result, just as they can quite properly expect us to respect the result at the national level. Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
The commonwealth government is threatening to withhold up to $400 million in crucial training funding if we do not adhere to its industrial relations demands. Let me make the situation absolutely clear: the federal government makes a contribution to the Western Australian education and training system. On the basis of that contribution, it is saying that we should pursue a particular policy. Every member of this Parliament, no matter what political party he or she represents, should be seriously concerned about the principle that underlies what the commonwealth is doing. In the 2001 and 2005 Western Australian elections, the Labor Party was elected to govern according to the philosophy, platform and programs put to the people of this state and with the powers and responsibilities given to state governments. If the commonwealth government can tell state governments what to do on the basis of the money that it contributes - despite their election platforms and policies and what happened in the election campaign - we will no longer have a federal system. This issue is of the utmost importance for the future of our country. The federal government is trying to turn democratically elected state Labor governments into branches of the federal Liberal Party. The Labor Party went to the last election and it won that election. I expect the Prime Minister and his ministers to respect that result, just as they can quite properly expect us to respect the result at the national level. Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Mr R.F. Johnson : But you don’t. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : This is amazing! The states have responsibility for industrial relations, and the state governments in many different jurisdictions put forward policies at their state elections. Therefore, we should be able to govern in our jurisdiction according to our principles and our policies. The current arrogance and bullying in our federal system is bad for the future of this nation. It is time all members of this Parliament, not only those on the Labor side - although I note that some members opposite are making their positions very clear on this matter - stood up for the states and for Western Australia in particular. Members should make it absolutely clear that the future of our children should not become a political football, as the commonwealth government is trying to do with its industrial relations agenda. I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
I am proud that we are progressing education. We will stand up against a commonwealth government that does not understand the principles of federalism and has policies and programs with the potential to convert Australia into a centralised system in which state governments do not have the autonomy needed to carry out good government for their people.
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