❓ Opposition questions Education Minister about budget cuts and program impacts following departmental amalgamation. Minister denies budget cuts, citing increased overall funding and planned reinvestment of savings from the merger.
AnsweredQoN 1347Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the 2003-04 budget papers which state that $30 million will be cut from the Department of Education and Training in the coming financial year, and to statements by the Director General of Education during budget estimates of this year that of the $30 million, $12 million only will be saved for redundancies, and ask - (1) Has the $12 million in savings as a result of redundancies been achieved? Mr N.R. Marlborough: Is this your last question? Mr J.H.D. DAY: There are some preselections coming up, including on the Labor side. Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(1) Has the $12 million in savings as a result of redundancies been achieved? Mr N.R. Marlborough: Is this your last question? Mr J.H.D. DAY: There are some preselections coming up, including on the Labor side. Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr N.R. Marlborough: Is this your last question? Mr J.H.D. DAY: There are some preselections coming up, including on the Labor side. Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: There are some preselections coming up, including on the Labor side. Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(1) Has the $12 million in savings as a result of redundancies been achieved? Mr N.R. Marlborough: Is this your last question? Mr J.H.D. DAY: There are some preselections coming up, including on the Labor side. Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr N.R. Marlborough: Is this your last question? Mr J.H.D. DAY: There are some preselections coming up, including on the Labor side. Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: There are some preselections coming up, including on the Labor side. Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr N.R. Marlborough interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
The SPEAKER: Order, member for Peel! Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: We might send Mr Lindsey back to the Labor Party to contest one of those. Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr E.S. Ripper: We would not have him. Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: That is interesting. My question continues - (2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(2) Given that the Director General also stated that all programs would be reviewed, beginning in July of this year, to achieve the remaining $18 million in savings, what programs will be cut in the coming financial year? (3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(3) Will the minister now concede that the recommendations of the Government’s razor gang will result in important educational programs being cut? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I sincerely wish him well. (1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
(1)-(3) Can the member refer me to the budget paper page which states that there will be $30 million in cuts to the education budget? Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Yes. At page 904 under “Functional Review Taskforce.” An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
An opposition member: Got you! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: No. I will check that. I advise the member that the budget for education has increased by well over $100 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget papers show $30 million coming out in 2004-05, $30 million in 2005-06, $30 million in 2006-07, and presumably every year after that. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I do not want to go over old ground, but there is a profound difference between cutting the budget and making savings internal to a budget. It is a bit of a sad testament that the former minister does not appreciate the difference. There has not been a cut to the budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: It is there under “Major policy decisions” at page 904. Ask your Treasurer. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Perhaps it is the same difficulty the member has distinguishing between negotiations and discussions; there is a difference. Anyway, to address the point: there is no cut to the department’s budget. Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: I did not say there was a cut to the bottom line. There is an increase overall, but you also have to provide for salary increases. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: I understand the intent of the member’s question, but the answer lies in the fact that the Department of Education and Training’s budget has been substantially increased. Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Including salary increases, which you have to pay for. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The Government is required to find $30 million of savings from the amalgamation, which it will find. If we cannot make savings from the amalgamation of two departments, there is something amiss. In response to whether the $12 million in redundancies has been achieved, we are four or five months into the financial year. The member for Darling Range should ask me that question next year, if we have the opportunity for such an exchange. The intent is to save that money - Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Won’t you be the Minister for Education and Training next year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Let us face it; I may not be! However, if I am the Minister for Education and Training and Mr Day is the member for Darling Range, perhaps we can even have this discussion outside Parliament. There is no cut to the education budget. It was substantially increased in real terms by several percentage points. There was an increase of $180 million or $190 million in the budget. By amalgamating the two departments, we intend to save $30 million and to reinvest those savings in educational programs. I would have thought that that objective would have broad support across the Chamber. With respect to the other $18 million in savings, there is no intention - the member for Darling Range would appreciate that we are currently in another series of negotiations - to cut educational programs. In fact, the Government wants to expand educational programs. The current enterprise bargaining agreement offer is full of educational program expansions. There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
There is, of course, the pressure of salary demands. As the member will appreciate, a 30 per cent salary demand over three years plus non-salary components translates into something like $600 million. If that had to be delivered, there would be real problems in delivering programs. We do not intend to have that problem. At the appropriate time, I will provide the member for Darling Range with specific responses to these questions. The appropriate time will be well into the future.
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Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.