❓ Mr Day questions the Minister for Education, Mr Carpenter, on decisions regarding Vacswim, agricultural education, and the resignation of the ALP education policy committee convenor, implying the Minister disregards advice. Mr Carpenter defends his decisions and deflects criticism.
AnsweredQoN 800Legislative Assembly
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I refer the minister to his statement in the Sunday Times dated 10 March this year that any suggestions which would further improve education in this State would always be welcomed by him. (1) Did he act against Department of Education advice when he cancelled the Vacswim contract with Surf Life Saving Western Australia last year? (2) Did he again ignore Department of Education advice when he removed the directorate of agricultural education from the central office of the Department of Education? (3) Can he confirm that the convenor of the Australian Labor Party’s education policy committee has resigned because it is obvious the minister is not interested in its advice and pays scant attention to it? (4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER
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I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(1) Did he act against Department of Education advice when he cancelled the Vacswim contract with Surf Life Saving Western Australia last year? (2) Did he again ignore Department of Education advice when he removed the directorate of agricultural education from the central office of the Department of Education? (3) Can he confirm that the convenor of the Australian Labor Party’s education policy committee has resigned because it is obvious the minister is not interested in its advice and pays scant attention to it? (4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(2) Did he again ignore Department of Education advice when he removed the directorate of agricultural education from the central office of the Department of Education? (3) Can he confirm that the convenor of the Australian Labor Party’s education policy committee has resigned because it is obvious the minister is not interested in its advice and pays scant attention to it? (4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(3) Can he confirm that the convenor of the Australian Labor Party’s education policy committee has resigned because it is obvious the minister is not interested in its advice and pays scant attention to it? (4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(1) Did he act against Department of Education advice when he cancelled the Vacswim contract with Surf Life Saving Western Australia last year? (2) Did he again ignore Department of Education advice when he removed the directorate of agricultural education from the central office of the Department of Education? (3) Can he confirm that the convenor of the Australian Labor Party’s education policy committee has resigned because it is obvious the minister is not interested in its advice and pays scant attention to it? (4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(2) Did he again ignore Department of Education advice when he removed the directorate of agricultural education from the central office of the Department of Education? (3) Can he confirm that the convenor of the Australian Labor Party’s education policy committee has resigned because it is obvious the minister is not interested in its advice and pays scant attention to it? (4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(3) Can he confirm that the convenor of the Australian Labor Party’s education policy committee has resigned because it is obvious the minister is not interested in its advice and pays scant attention to it? (4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(4) Will the minister admit that the weight of evidence clearly demonstrates that suggestions to improve education in this State are far from welcome under the Gallop Labor Government? Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
I thank the member for this question. (1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
(1)-(4) In relation to the Vacswim situation, as I recall, a variety of advice came from within the Department of Education. It was quite clear to anybody who looked at it objectively that the situation had deteriorated significantly under the privatised arrangements. Any minister who was intent on righting that situation would have acted as I did, which was to bring it back under the umbrella of the Department of Education. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I certainly recall that the then Director General of the Department of Education, Mr Peter Browne, suggested that the contract be rolled over for another year. Other people in the department did not share that view and, in the end, I had to make a decision based on balance. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I hope the member is not suggesting that although I should be open to advice, I should be bound by all advice that comes to me. Obviously the minister is there to make a decision. I made the decision that I believed was the right one. I think I have been vindicated. Although enrolments declined marginally, they did not do so by the huge amount they declined in the previous two years. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: In relation to the removal, I do not know how many years the member was a minister, but if he removed people from the lower levels of the department, I suggest that he was in breach of the Public Sector Management Act. I certainly had no role in what the member describes as the removal of a person from that section. Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I did not have a role in that either. I do not recall receiving advice about it one way or the other. Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Barnett: It was a huge mistake. Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I enjoy the interjections from the member for Cottesloe, because I have an advantage over him: I followed him into the ministerial job. I get all the stories about what he was like as a minister. He does not get them about me because he is on the outer. He would be wise to keep his little head down in relation to education because, just like in the election campaign, I am quite prepared to kick it when he sticks it up. He set himself up as the head kicker in the election campaign, stubbed his toe in a big way, made a fool of himself and helped lose the election. I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
I will deal with the Australian Labor Party policy committee. I admit that I was surprised when I read in the Sunday Times that Victoria Carlton had resigned. However, that is her decision. It is important to understand - the reporter from the Sunday Times, at least initially, did not understand - that the ALP policy committee is not the Government’s committee; it is the ALP’s committee. The ALP can have a policy committee that - Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Birney interjected. Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: I am interested, of course; but I do not appoint people to or seek to control the committee. According to the report of what Victoria Carlton said, she was dissatisfied with the factionalising of the committee. Everybody knows my position on factions: I am not in one. Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr Day: Why do you think she resigned? Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
Mr CARPENTER: She resigned because she was not happy with the way the committee was going. I do not recall getting any advice from her. The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
The fourth question related to the fact that suggestions are not welcome. I welcome suggestions from everybody, including from the member for Darling Range, about the way we can do things better in education. After eight years of the crowd opposite in government, we can do a lot of things a helluva lot better. Therefore, plenty of suggestions can come forward.
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