❓ Mr. Stephens questions the Minister for Education about school attendance officers in the Pilbara region, citing the Auditor General's report. The Minister deflects, stating lack of notice and criticizes the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 676Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE — AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT
I refer to the Auditor General’s report on the woeful levels of attendance at state schools, with particular reference to schools in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. (1) Is it true that there is only one school attendance officer to service the entire Pilbara region? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is no attendance officer in Port Hedland to service the east Pilbara region, and that that position has remained vacant for the entire time she has been Minister for Education? (3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE
I refer to the Auditor General’s report on the woeful levels of attendance at state schools, with particular reference to schools in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. (1) Is it true that there is only one school attendance officer to service the entire Pilbara region? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is no attendance officer in Port Hedland to service the east Pilbara region, and that that position has remained vacant for the entire time she has been Minister for Education? (3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(1) Is it true that there is only one school attendance officer to service the entire Pilbara region? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is no attendance officer in Port Hedland to service the east Pilbara region, and that that position has remained vacant for the entire time she has been Minister for Education? (3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(2) Will the minister confirm that there is no attendance officer in Port Hedland to service the east Pilbara region, and that that position has remained vacant for the entire time she has been Minister for Education? (3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(1) Is it true that there is only one school attendance officer to service the entire Pilbara region? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is no attendance officer in Port Hedland to service the east Pilbara region, and that that position has remained vacant for the entire time she has been Minister for Education? (3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(2) Will the minister confirm that there is no attendance officer in Port Hedland to service the east Pilbara region, and that that position has remained vacant for the entire time she has been Minister for Education? (3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(3) Will the minister tell the house what she is doing to ensure that the Pilbara region has attendance officers in place who can assist in reducing the level of truancy in that area, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report? (4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(4) When will the minister secure a new attendance officer for Port Hedland? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
(1)-(4) The Auditor General’s report on school attendances in Western Australia actually covers the years 2000 to 2008. Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mr T.G. Stephens : Yes, but you’ve been minister for nine months—in fact, a year. Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : We saw a drop in attendances across the state, except in the Kimberley region, where extra attendance officers had been appointed. Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland! Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of this question, I would have been able to give an answer. Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mr T.G. Stephens : You got notice 12 months ago when you accepted the portfolio! Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : The member is such a bully! If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
If he had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to find the answers. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
The SPEAKER : Members! The only person I want to hear from at the moment is the minister, and I believe that the member for Pilbara might be interested in her answers also. I do not want to hear from any other members. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member for Pilbara had given me notice of the question, I would have been able to provide answers to the first two parts of his question. I am as concerned as he is about poor attendance rates, particularly in remote areas of Western Australia. Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Mr T.G. Stephens : If you were as concerned as I am, you would have done something about it. Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : If the member had been concerned during the Labor Party’s seven and a half years in government, he would have done something about it when the attendance rate went down. As he knows, it is a very difficult situation, and the government will continue to work on the situation of attendance right across Western Australia. It is a major issue for the government to look at, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve the attendance of children in schools, not only in the member for Pilbara’s electorate, but across the state.
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