❓ Opposition questions the Premier about the Education Minister's performance, citing numerous policy reversals. The Premier deflects, highlighting federal funding for Moora Residential College and criticising the opposition's reaction.
AnsweredQoN 613Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING —
PERFORMANCE
613. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the bungling and
backflips in the education portfolio, including the backflip on Moora
Residential College, Perth Modern School, the high-rise school in Northbridge,
Schools of the Air, the gifted and talented program, community resource centres
and Northam Residential College, and numerous other backflips. How many bungles
and backflips have to occur before the Premier dumps the Minister for Education
and Training, who is clearly out of her depth in managing this important
portfolio?
PERFORMANCE
613. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I refer to the bungling and
backflips in the education portfolio, including the backflip on Moora
Residential College, Perth Modern School, the high-rise school in Northbridge,
Schools of the Air, the gifted and talented program, community resource centres
and Northam Residential College, and numerous other backflips. How many bungles
and backflips have to occur before the Premier dumps the Minister for Education
and Training, who is clearly out of her depth in managing this important
portfolio?
AnswerView source ↗
I will tell members what I observed
last week. I turned on the news on Monday night, and the saddest, angriest
people in Western Australia were in the Liberal and National Parties. They were
wild! I could see the fury and bile pouring out of their every comment. On the
news that night, of course, it was announced that the federal government had
decided to fund the $8.7 million--$8.7 million; not $500 000, as some people
have repeated ad nauseam—capital works for the Moora residential
facility. So they decided to —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, the
federal Liberal government. I note that there was a little bit of disputation—Liberal
or National, who is responsible here? I noted that. I noted the fury and the
anger —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They can
barely contain it now!
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I did note
there was dispute between the Liberals and Nationals and One Nation as to who
was responsible! I will repeat it: the most unhappy people in this whole thing
were the state Liberals and Nationals. They were wildly unhappy when the
announcement was made!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
commonwealth government decided to fund the $8.7 million, as we always said it
was, to put in place that improvement to infrastructure there. I was contacted
by the commonwealth government. After some consideration, I said, yes, we would
accept that money—the commonwealth government can pay for that. I think
it is absolutely true that this government has been better at securing support
from the commonwealth government than has any government that the opposition
has ever run!
last week. I turned on the news on Monday night, and the saddest, angriest
people in Western Australia were in the Liberal and National Parties. They were
wild! I could see the fury and bile pouring out of their every comment. On the
news that night, of course, it was announced that the federal government had
decided to fund the $8.7 million--$8.7 million; not $500 000, as some people
have repeated ad nauseam—capital works for the Moora residential
facility. So they decided to —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yes, the
federal Liberal government. I note that there was a little bit of disputation—Liberal
or National, who is responsible here? I noted that. I noted the fury and the
anger —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : They can
barely contain it now!
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I did note
there was dispute between the Liberals and Nationals and One Nation as to who
was responsible! I will repeat it: the most unhappy people in this whole thing
were the state Liberals and Nationals. They were wildly unhappy when the
announcement was made!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The
commonwealth government decided to fund the $8.7 million, as we always said it
was, to put in place that improvement to infrastructure there. I was contacted
by the commonwealth government. After some consideration, I said, yes, we would
accept that money—the commonwealth government can pay for that. I think
it is absolutely true that this government has been better at securing support
from the commonwealth government than has any government that the opposition
has ever run!
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