❓ The Minister for Education and Training reports on community forums regarding raising the school leaving age and attempts to ascertain the Opposition's stance on the policy, facing resistance and ultimately concluding a lack of bipartisan support.
AnsweredQoN 572Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister please inform the House of the outcome of the youth forums on raising the school leaving age? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. On Friday we held the last of our community forums on raising the school leaving age. The forum was opened by the Premier and was a very interesting and successful event. The 150 young people who attended the event at Bentley included apprentices, trainees, and students from across all education sectors, both government and non-government. The forum was connected by live video link to Karratha, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Albany. In addition to the address by the Premier, Dale Alcock spoke about the need for young people to engage longer and more fruitfully in education and training to meet the requirements of the modern economy. Coincidentally, in today’s The West Australian there is a story about a 15-year-old boy, James Hamilton from Craigie, who cannot get an apprenticeship. The very issue that we are trying to explain to young people in schools and their families is that the economy requires higher levels of achievement and educational outcomes before people will be given an opportunity for employment. Fifteen-year-olds just do not have a chance. Fifteen is too young. The 20 forums and the lunches that have been held in association with them have engaged almost 3 000 people. It is interesting that so far only one opposition member of Parliament has attended a forum; I refer to the member for Wagin, who attended the forum in Narrogin, which was one of our most successful. There is now strong community support for this initiative. Everyone now recognises that in this area, to do nothing is no longer an option. The Government must act, and it must be supported by the community. However, I have one question. I would like to know - the Leader of the Opposition is muttering under his breath - Mr C.J. Barnett: No, I am not. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. On Friday we held the last of our community forums on raising the school leaving age. The forum was opened by the Premier and was a very interesting and successful event. The 150 young people who attended the event at Bentley included apprentices, trainees, and students from across all education sectors, both government and non-government. The forum was connected by live video link to Karratha, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Albany. In addition to the address by the Premier, Dale Alcock spoke about the need for young people to engage longer and more fruitfully in education and training to meet the requirements of the modern economy. Coincidentally, in today’s The West Australian there is a story about a 15-year-old boy, James Hamilton from Craigie, who cannot get an apprenticeship. The very issue that we are trying to explain to young people in schools and their families is that the economy requires higher levels of achievement and educational outcomes before people will be given an opportunity for employment. Fifteen-year-olds just do not have a chance. Fifteen is too young. The 20 forums and the lunches that have been held in association with them have engaged almost 3 000 people. It is interesting that so far only one opposition member of Parliament has attended a forum; I refer to the member for Wagin, who attended the forum in Narrogin, which was one of our most successful. There is now strong community support for this initiative. Everyone now recognises that in this area, to do nothing is no longer an option. The Government must act, and it must be supported by the community. However, I have one question. I would like to know - the Leader of the Opposition is muttering under his breath - Mr C.J. Barnett: No, I am not. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
I thank the member for the question. On Friday we held the last of our community forums on raising the school leaving age. The forum was opened by the Premier and was a very interesting and successful event. The 150 young people who attended the event at Bentley included apprentices, trainees, and students from across all education sectors, both government and non-government. The forum was connected by live video link to Karratha, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Albany. In addition to the address by the Premier, Dale Alcock spoke about the need for young people to engage longer and more fruitfully in education and training to meet the requirements of the modern economy. Coincidentally, in today’s The West Australian there is a story about a 15-year-old boy, James Hamilton from Craigie, who cannot get an apprenticeship. The very issue that we are trying to explain to young people in schools and their families is that the economy requires higher levels of achievement and educational outcomes before people will be given an opportunity for employment. Fifteen-year-olds just do not have a chance. Fifteen is too young. The 20 forums and the lunches that have been held in association with them have engaged almost 3 000 people. It is interesting that so far only one opposition member of Parliament has attended a forum; I refer to the member for Wagin, who attended the forum in Narrogin, which was one of our most successful. There is now strong community support for this initiative. Everyone now recognises that in this area, to do nothing is no longer an option. The Government must act, and it must be supported by the community. However, I have one question. I would like to know - the Leader of the Opposition is muttering under his breath - Mr C.J. Barnett: No, I am not. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr C.J. Barnett: No, I am not. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. On Friday we held the last of our community forums on raising the school leaving age. The forum was opened by the Premier and was a very interesting and successful event. The 150 young people who attended the event at Bentley included apprentices, trainees, and students from across all education sectors, both government and non-government. The forum was connected by live video link to Karratha, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Albany. In addition to the address by the Premier, Dale Alcock spoke about the need for young people to engage longer and more fruitfully in education and training to meet the requirements of the modern economy. Coincidentally, in today’s The West Australian there is a story about a 15-year-old boy, James Hamilton from Craigie, who cannot get an apprenticeship. The very issue that we are trying to explain to young people in schools and their families is that the economy requires higher levels of achievement and educational outcomes before people will be given an opportunity for employment. Fifteen-year-olds just do not have a chance. Fifteen is too young. The 20 forums and the lunches that have been held in association with them have engaged almost 3 000 people. It is interesting that so far only one opposition member of Parliament has attended a forum; I refer to the member for Wagin, who attended the forum in Narrogin, which was one of our most successful. There is now strong community support for this initiative. Everyone now recognises that in this area, to do nothing is no longer an option. The Government must act, and it must be supported by the community. However, I have one question. I would like to know - the Leader of the Opposition is muttering under his breath - Mr C.J. Barnett: No, I am not. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
I thank the member for the question. On Friday we held the last of our community forums on raising the school leaving age. The forum was opened by the Premier and was a very interesting and successful event. The 150 young people who attended the event at Bentley included apprentices, trainees, and students from across all education sectors, both government and non-government. The forum was connected by live video link to Karratha, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Albany. In addition to the address by the Premier, Dale Alcock spoke about the need for young people to engage longer and more fruitfully in education and training to meet the requirements of the modern economy. Coincidentally, in today’s The West Australian there is a story about a 15-year-old boy, James Hamilton from Craigie, who cannot get an apprenticeship. The very issue that we are trying to explain to young people in schools and their families is that the economy requires higher levels of achievement and educational outcomes before people will be given an opportunity for employment. Fifteen-year-olds just do not have a chance. Fifteen is too young. The 20 forums and the lunches that have been held in association with them have engaged almost 3 000 people. It is interesting that so far only one opposition member of Parliament has attended a forum; I refer to the member for Wagin, who attended the forum in Narrogin, which was one of our most successful. There is now strong community support for this initiative. Everyone now recognises that in this area, to do nothing is no longer an option. The Government must act, and it must be supported by the community. However, I have one question. I would like to know - the Leader of the Opposition is muttering under his breath - Mr C.J. Barnett: No, I am not. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr C.J. Barnett: No, I am not. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: Do the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal and National Parties support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr C.J. Barnett: If you want to ask me a question, get the member for Rockingham to ask me, and I will answer it any time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: This is the Leader of the Opposition’s opportunity, because this response will go directly to the community. The Government has a clear agenda on this issue. I have said at every forum across Western Australia that I believe we have bipartisan support for this model. However, I may have been mistaken. Therefore, I ask again: does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age from 15 to 17? Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr C.J. Barnett: If you can’t make a decision, move on and let someone else do the job! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is twice! I have now given the Opposition two chances. I will give it one more chance. Does the Opposition support our policy on raising the school leaving age in Western Australia from 15 to 17? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is very interesting! That response will be listened to around Western Australia. When I said to people that I was sure there was bipartisan support for this proposal, I think I was wrong. I became very concerned when I heard the Leader of the National Party say in this Chamber that there is no public benefit to that policy. Can anyone believe that, in 2004, a serious leader of a major political party in Western Australia would say there is no public benefit to that policy? I am grateful for that response because it will go out today to the people of Western Australia as the Opposition’s position on this policy, which I believe is one of the most important things that confronts us as a Government and a community.
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