❓ Mr Day questions the Minister for Education and Training about the amalgamation of education bodies and the impact on non-government schools. The Minister's response is a broad defence of the amalgamation, acknowledging concerns but promising enhanced outcomes.
AnsweredQoN 493Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s plans to amalgamate the Curriculum Council and the Department of Education Services with the Department of Education and Training, as outlined in the implementation paper entitled “Establishment of the Department of Education and Training”. (1) Does the minister acknowledge the benefits for the whole education system of the three sectors - government, independent and Catholic - having worked through the Curriculum Council as an independent body? (2) Is the minister aware of the concerns within the non-government school sector about the loss of independence of the council that amalgamation would cause? (3) What consultation has the minister had with the non-government school sector about this amalgamation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge the benefits for the whole education system of the three sectors - government, independent and Catholic - having worked through the Curriculum Council as an independent body? (2) Is the minister aware of the concerns within the non-government school sector about the loss of independence of the council that amalgamation would cause? (3) What consultation has the minister had with the non-government school sector about this amalgamation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(2) Is the minister aware of the concerns within the non-government school sector about the loss of independence of the council that amalgamation would cause? (3) What consultation has the minister had with the non-government school sector about this amalgamation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(3) What consultation has the minister had with the non-government school sector about this amalgamation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge the benefits for the whole education system of the three sectors - government, independent and Catholic - having worked through the Curriculum Council as an independent body? (2) Is the minister aware of the concerns within the non-government school sector about the loss of independence of the council that amalgamation would cause? (3) What consultation has the minister had with the non-government school sector about this amalgamation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(2) Is the minister aware of the concerns within the non-government school sector about the loss of independence of the council that amalgamation would cause? (3) What consultation has the minister had with the non-government school sector about this amalgamation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(3) What consultation has the minister had with the non-government school sector about this amalgamation? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
I thank the member for this question in three parts. (1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
(1)-(3) We are in a very interesting situation in education in Western Australia. In government we can decide whether to actively try to improve things or coast and let things happen around us. We can respond every now and then when the Department of Education and Training wants a new school opened and tell ourselves that we have done a good job. On the other hand we can sit down and ask what is happening systemically in education with the non-government sector, including the Catholic education sector; independent schools, including Aboriginal independent schools; and state schools. What other education facilities exist? There are training institutions, TAFE, universities, non-government providers of training and structured learning in the workplace. It has been my view since I was in opposition - it became more obvious when the Labor Party took office - that no strategy was in place for the development of educational resources in Western Australia. We were on autopilot, hoping things would turn out for the better. However, good efforts were being made at various levels, such as local levels geographically, inside the Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Association of Independent Schools and the Curriculum Council of Western Australia, while absolutely no strategy was in place. My view, shared I think fairly widely now, is that at state government level, as opposed to defending the nation, education - training and skills acquisition - is the most important responsibility of government because it impacts on our future. Governments can sit around and do nothing and hope that everything will be all right. Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Can we get anywhere near the question? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The preamble to the question is marginally shorter than the preamble to the supplementary question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. I am trying to clarify the context of the issue. We had to do something; we had to change. It was important therefore that we have an overall strategy. I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
I listened to remarks in the debate last night about decentralisation and the attendant efficiencies that should bring. However, efficiencies just do not occur. That is obvious from the way the previous Government destructively ran the state budget in its last four years in government. There must be a strategy that incorporates all elements of education services. Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr J.H.D. Day: You can’t remember the question. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I know what the question is. I said to all education sectors - Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Ms S.E. Walker: You love the attention, don’t you? The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: Member for Nedlands! Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr J.N. Hyde interjected. The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: Member for Perth! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I told all the sectors that I would have an education strategy that incorporated everybody. They will all be placed under one umbrella, which will have an outline of objectives. An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
An opposition member interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Exactly! We must be visionary. If members are not prepared to be visionary, they should get out of government. They can wait until they have enough money to leave. They do not have to be on stress leave when they are in Parliament. They can do nothing for year after year if that is what they want to do. I do not choose to do that. When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
When I told all the sectors what I intended, they raised concerns. I understand their concerns and I have guaranteed that their objectives and concerns will be taken into consideration and that their performance and the outcomes they are seeking will not be in any way diminished; they will be enhanced. We have a choice: I ask government members whether we want to do something positive for Western Australia. Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Government members: Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I ask opposition members whether they want to do something positive for Western Australia. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Therein lies the answer. Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY: That was a serious question on an important matter of education policy. Both this House and the education sector in Western Australia have a right to a meaningful answer. I went to the trouble of making sure that the minister had a copy of the question in front of him and we deserve an answer. The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: I do not know whether the member raised that as a point of order; if so, there is no point of order. I think the minister’s answer is finished. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: As you know, Mr Speaker, I took a point of order concerning relevance. I now exercise my right to ask a supplementary question. That right should not disappear because I raised a point of order. The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
The SPEAKER: It is at the Speaker’s discretion whether supplementary questions can be asked. That question took more time than it should have; therefore, I decline the member’s request to ask a supplementary question.
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