❓ The WA government is partnering with the Catholic Education Office to develop a $6.6 million, 64-bed boarding facility in Broome for remote Kimberley students, with the government contributing $4.4 million. Assistance to non-government schools has increased significantly since 2001.
AnsweredQoN 748Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister please advise the House what the Gallop Government is doing to help remote students in the Kimberley access quality education facilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kimberley for the question. Yesterday I was in Broome with the member for Kimberley and it was a very good day; it was a great pleasure to be able to announce that, in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the State Government will develop a 64-bed $6.6 million school boarding facility in Broome for children in the Kimberley, the first such boarding facility provided in the Kimberley and the first such boarding facility provided in a financial partnership between the State Government and the Catholic Education Office. I compliment the member for Kimberley who, even predating her time in Parliament, has pursued this idea. It will, without doubt, be regarded as a huge benefit to the young people of the Kimberley, particularly west Kimberley children and the children of Aboriginal communities, who find it very difficult to access high school education, in particular, unless they are sent to far away places such as Perth, Geraldton, Darwin and Esperance. There are even children going to Adelaide and Melbourne for their education. This facility is a result of very strong representation from the member for Kimberley. I also thank the Bishop of Broome, Bishop Saunders, and the Catholic Education Office’s chief executive officer, Ron Dullard. He came to my office about six months ago knowing that the State Government was keen to develop a boarding facility in Broome at the high school, and with the knowledge that the Catholic Education Office was also keen. I had conversations with the principal at St Mary’s College, Tony Treacy, and the principal at the Broome Senior High School, Gary Downsborough. However, as a result of the Bishop of Broome’s enthusiasm for the joint venture, we will be able to bring this project to fruition. The State Government will contribute $4.4 million to the project and the Catholic Education Office $2.2 million. As I said, it will be a 64-bed facility. The potential is there, once it is up and running successfully, to expand it well beyond the 64 beds and I have no doubt that that will happen in time. The Country High School Hostels Authority will manage the facility when it is up and running. The project begins almost immediately. It is anticipated that it will be open for business from the first day of school in 2006. There is a very short time line for its development, but we are assured by all parties concerned that it can be done. I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Kimberley for the question. Yesterday I was in Broome with the member for Kimberley and it was a very good day; it was a great pleasure to be able to announce that, in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the State Government will develop a 64-bed $6.6 million school boarding facility in Broome for children in the Kimberley, the first such boarding facility provided in the Kimberley and the first such boarding facility provided in a financial partnership between the State Government and the Catholic Education Office. I compliment the member for Kimberley who, even predating her time in Parliament, has pursued this idea. It will, without doubt, be regarded as a huge benefit to the young people of the Kimberley, particularly west Kimberley children and the children of Aboriginal communities, who find it very difficult to access high school education, in particular, unless they are sent to far away places such as Perth, Geraldton, Darwin and Esperance. There are even children going to Adelaide and Melbourne for their education. This facility is a result of very strong representation from the member for Kimberley. I also thank the Bishop of Broome, Bishop Saunders, and the Catholic Education Office’s chief executive officer, Ron Dullard. He came to my office about six months ago knowing that the State Government was keen to develop a boarding facility in Broome at the high school, and with the knowledge that the Catholic Education Office was also keen. I had conversations with the principal at St Mary’s College, Tony Treacy, and the principal at the Broome Senior High School, Gary Downsborough. However, as a result of the Bishop of Broome’s enthusiasm for the joint venture, we will be able to bring this project to fruition. The State Government will contribute $4.4 million to the project and the Catholic Education Office $2.2 million. As I said, it will be a 64-bed facility. The potential is there, once it is up and running successfully, to expand it well beyond the 64 beds and I have no doubt that that will happen in time. The Country High School Hostels Authority will manage the facility when it is up and running. The project begins almost immediately. It is anticipated that it will be open for business from the first day of school in 2006. There is a very short time line for its development, but we are assured by all parties concerned that it can be done. I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
I thank the member for Kimberley for the question. Yesterday I was in Broome with the member for Kimberley and it was a very good day; it was a great pleasure to be able to announce that, in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the State Government will develop a 64-bed $6.6 million school boarding facility in Broome for children in the Kimberley, the first such boarding facility provided in the Kimberley and the first such boarding facility provided in a financial partnership between the State Government and the Catholic Education Office. I compliment the member for Kimberley who, even predating her time in Parliament, has pursued this idea. It will, without doubt, be regarded as a huge benefit to the young people of the Kimberley, particularly west Kimberley children and the children of Aboriginal communities, who find it very difficult to access high school education, in particular, unless they are sent to far away places such as Perth, Geraldton, Darwin and Esperance. There are even children going to Adelaide and Melbourne for their education. This facility is a result of very strong representation from the member for Kimberley. I also thank the Bishop of Broome, Bishop Saunders, and the Catholic Education Office’s chief executive officer, Ron Dullard. He came to my office about six months ago knowing that the State Government was keen to develop a boarding facility in Broome at the high school, and with the knowledge that the Catholic Education Office was also keen. I had conversations with the principal at St Mary’s College, Tony Treacy, and the principal at the Broome Senior High School, Gary Downsborough. However, as a result of the Bishop of Broome’s enthusiasm for the joint venture, we will be able to bring this project to fruition. The State Government will contribute $4.4 million to the project and the Catholic Education Office $2.2 million. As I said, it will be a 64-bed facility. The potential is there, once it is up and running successfully, to expand it well beyond the 64 beds and I have no doubt that that will happen in time. The Country High School Hostels Authority will manage the facility when it is up and running. The project begins almost immediately. It is anticipated that it will be open for business from the first day of school in 2006. There is a very short time line for its development, but we are assured by all parties concerned that it can be done. I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
Yesterday I was in Broome with the member for Kimberley and it was a very good day; it was a great pleasure to be able to announce that, in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the State Government will develop a 64-bed $6.6 million school boarding facility in Broome for children in the Kimberley, the first such boarding facility provided in the Kimberley and the first such boarding facility provided in a financial partnership between the State Government and the Catholic Education Office. I compliment the member for Kimberley who, even predating her time in Parliament, has pursued this idea. It will, without doubt, be regarded as a huge benefit to the young people of the Kimberley, particularly west Kimberley children and the children of Aboriginal communities, who find it very difficult to access high school education, in particular, unless they are sent to far away places such as Perth, Geraldton, Darwin and Esperance. There are even children going to Adelaide and Melbourne for their education. This facility is a result of very strong representation from the member for Kimberley. I also thank the Bishop of Broome, Bishop Saunders, and the Catholic Education Office’s chief executive officer, Ron Dullard. He came to my office about six months ago knowing that the State Government was keen to develop a boarding facility in Broome at the high school, and with the knowledge that the Catholic Education Office was also keen. I had conversations with the principal at St Mary’s College, Tony Treacy, and the principal at the Broome Senior High School, Gary Downsborough. However, as a result of the Bishop of Broome’s enthusiasm for the joint venture, we will be able to bring this project to fruition. The State Government will contribute $4.4 million to the project and the Catholic Education Office $2.2 million. As I said, it will be a 64-bed facility. The potential is there, once it is up and running successfully, to expand it well beyond the 64 beds and I have no doubt that that will happen in time. The Country High School Hostels Authority will manage the facility when it is up and running. The project begins almost immediately. It is anticipated that it will be open for business from the first day of school in 2006. There is a very short time line for its development, but we are assured by all parties concerned that it can be done. I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid.
This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard
Yours sincerely Ron Dullard
Ron Dullard
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Kimberley for the question. Yesterday I was in Broome with the member for Kimberley and it was a very good day; it was a great pleasure to be able to announce that, in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the State Government will develop a 64-bed $6.6 million school boarding facility in Broome for children in the Kimberley, the first such boarding facility provided in the Kimberley and the first such boarding facility provided in a financial partnership between the State Government and the Catholic Education Office. I compliment the member for Kimberley who, even predating her time in Parliament, has pursued this idea. It will, without doubt, be regarded as a huge benefit to the young people of the Kimberley, particularly west Kimberley children and the children of Aboriginal communities, who find it very difficult to access high school education, in particular, unless they are sent to far away places such as Perth, Geraldton, Darwin and Esperance. There are even children going to Adelaide and Melbourne for their education. This facility is a result of very strong representation from the member for Kimberley. I also thank the Bishop of Broome, Bishop Saunders, and the Catholic Education Office’s chief executive officer, Ron Dullard. He came to my office about six months ago knowing that the State Government was keen to develop a boarding facility in Broome at the high school, and with the knowledge that the Catholic Education Office was also keen. I had conversations with the principal at St Mary’s College, Tony Treacy, and the principal at the Broome Senior High School, Gary Downsborough. However, as a result of the Bishop of Broome’s enthusiasm for the joint venture, we will be able to bring this project to fruition. The State Government will contribute $4.4 million to the project and the Catholic Education Office $2.2 million. As I said, it will be a 64-bed facility. The potential is there, once it is up and running successfully, to expand it well beyond the 64 beds and I have no doubt that that will happen in time. The Country High School Hostels Authority will manage the facility when it is up and running. The project begins almost immediately. It is anticipated that it will be open for business from the first day of school in 2006. There is a very short time line for its development, but we are assured by all parties concerned that it can be done. I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
I thank the member for Kimberley for the question. Yesterday I was in Broome with the member for Kimberley and it was a very good day; it was a great pleasure to be able to announce that, in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the State Government will develop a 64-bed $6.6 million school boarding facility in Broome for children in the Kimberley, the first such boarding facility provided in the Kimberley and the first such boarding facility provided in a financial partnership between the State Government and the Catholic Education Office. I compliment the member for Kimberley who, even predating her time in Parliament, has pursued this idea. It will, without doubt, be regarded as a huge benefit to the young people of the Kimberley, particularly west Kimberley children and the children of Aboriginal communities, who find it very difficult to access high school education, in particular, unless they are sent to far away places such as Perth, Geraldton, Darwin and Esperance. There are even children going to Adelaide and Melbourne for their education. This facility is a result of very strong representation from the member for Kimberley. I also thank the Bishop of Broome, Bishop Saunders, and the Catholic Education Office’s chief executive officer, Ron Dullard. He came to my office about six months ago knowing that the State Government was keen to develop a boarding facility in Broome at the high school, and with the knowledge that the Catholic Education Office was also keen. I had conversations with the principal at St Mary’s College, Tony Treacy, and the principal at the Broome Senior High School, Gary Downsborough. However, as a result of the Bishop of Broome’s enthusiasm for the joint venture, we will be able to bring this project to fruition. The State Government will contribute $4.4 million to the project and the Catholic Education Office $2.2 million. As I said, it will be a 64-bed facility. The potential is there, once it is up and running successfully, to expand it well beyond the 64 beds and I have no doubt that that will happen in time. The Country High School Hostels Authority will manage the facility when it is up and running. The project begins almost immediately. It is anticipated that it will be open for business from the first day of school in 2006. There is a very short time line for its development, but we are assured by all parties concerned that it can be done. I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
Yesterday I was in Broome with the member for Kimberley and it was a very good day; it was a great pleasure to be able to announce that, in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the State Government will develop a 64-bed $6.6 million school boarding facility in Broome for children in the Kimberley, the first such boarding facility provided in the Kimberley and the first such boarding facility provided in a financial partnership between the State Government and the Catholic Education Office. I compliment the member for Kimberley who, even predating her time in Parliament, has pursued this idea. It will, without doubt, be regarded as a huge benefit to the young people of the Kimberley, particularly west Kimberley children and the children of Aboriginal communities, who find it very difficult to access high school education, in particular, unless they are sent to far away places such as Perth, Geraldton, Darwin and Esperance. There are even children going to Adelaide and Melbourne for their education. This facility is a result of very strong representation from the member for Kimberley. I also thank the Bishop of Broome, Bishop Saunders, and the Catholic Education Office’s chief executive officer, Ron Dullard. He came to my office about six months ago knowing that the State Government was keen to develop a boarding facility in Broome at the high school, and with the knowledge that the Catholic Education Office was also keen. I had conversations with the principal at St Mary’s College, Tony Treacy, and the principal at the Broome Senior High School, Gary Downsborough. However, as a result of the Bishop of Broome’s enthusiasm for the joint venture, we will be able to bring this project to fruition. The State Government will contribute $4.4 million to the project and the Catholic Education Office $2.2 million. As I said, it will be a 64-bed facility. The potential is there, once it is up and running successfully, to expand it well beyond the 64 beds and I have no doubt that that will happen in time. The Country High School Hostels Authority will manage the facility when it is up and running. The project begins almost immediately. It is anticipated that it will be open for business from the first day of school in 2006. There is a very short time line for its development, but we are assured by all parties concerned that it can be done. I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
I compliment the member for Wagin - I am sure that he will appreciate this - for his advocacy of the hostel at Narrogin. There is no reason for children in the Kimberley to not have access to the same sort of facilities that we opened in Narrogin a week or two ago. That is a magnificent facility and I anticipate that the facility in the Kimberley will be as good or better. I will round off by saying that since this Government was elected in 2001 the assistance given to non-government schools in Western Australia has never been better, despite the rhetoric that we hear from the Opposition about this Government’s approach to non-government education. The figures are available to demonstrate it. In 2001 the State Government provided $138 million in per capita grants to non-government schools in Western Australia. For the calender year 2005 that figure will have gone from $138 million to $193 million, which is an increase of 35 or 36 per cent - far in excess of the increase that the previous Government was able to provide. In addition, we have provided about $100 million in low-interest loans to Catholic schools. Non-Catholic schools have been in receipt of assistance as well, as has the University of Notre Dame Australia. I am of the view that that prompted Ron Dullard, the Catholic Education Office’s CEO, to write to me on 6 July in the following terms - Dear Alan I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid. That assistance received no publicity. The letter continues - I appreciate the Government’s continued support of Catholic education. In particular, I appreciate your personal support and interest in Catholic schools and their communities across Western Australia. This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard I believe Ron Dullard is a man of great quality. He is running the Catholic education system very well. He thinks outside the square. Because of the approach taken by people such as the Bishop of Broome, in partnership with the member for Kimberley and people such as Carol Garlett, the district director in the Kimberley, we will now provide access to a magnificent facility for young children attending school in the Kimberley. They will no longer find it necessary to leave their region to access quality education.
I am writing in response to your letter to the Catholic school system of 30 June 2004 in which you advise that the remaining $1.1 million special funding assistance with soon be paid.
This funding will enable essential services to continue to be delivered to students in Catholic schools. Yours sincerely Ron Dullard
Yours sincerely Ron Dullard
Ron Dullard
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