❓ Opposition asks if the Education Minister agrees with the Premier's dismissive comment towards parents questioning spending priorities. The Minister defends the Premier, highlighting increased education funding.
AnsweredQoN 116Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT SPENDING — PREMIER'S
COMMENTS
116. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
Does the minister share the Premier's view that
parents who question why the government is spending money on Elizabeth Quay and
a new stadium, when it is cutting public education, should ''get a life''?
COMMENTS
116. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
Does the minister share the Premier's view that
parents who question why the government is spending money on Elizabeth Quay and
a new stadium, when it is cutting public education, should ''get a life''?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the question. I think the
Leader of the Opposition needs to put the question into context —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Just like Facebook.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Grow up! Goodness gracious, the honourable
member really needs to move on, I have to say—but she cannot. She
suffers from enormous irrelevance.
I will answer the
honourable member's question. I am aware of the comment. The Premier
was talking about Elizabeth Quay as opposed to education. He was talking about
Elizabeth Quay and saying that we have Elizabeth Quay and a number of
developments, such as the Northbridge Link and a raft of others. To put this is
context, the Premier was saying ''get over it'', in terms of
moving on and that the government is actually doing these things for Perth and
Western Australia to make it a better place to live. He was not reflecting in
any shape or form upon the significance of education funding in Western
Australia. As a former Minister for Education, Colin Barnett is very mindful of
the role education plays in our community. That is why as Premier he has
presided over such a significant increase in funding for education throughout the
state. As I have said before, the government has increased education funding by
more than 55 per cent since the Liberal–National government came to
office in 2008. In 2008, our schools were amongst the lowest resourced in the
nation; now they are by far the highest resourced in the nation. At the time we
came to office, teachers were lowest paid in the nation; now they are the
highest paid in the nation.
Hon Sue Ellery : Why are parents asking the question?
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Once you have asked your
question, you have to give the minister the opportunity to respond. I am sure
the minister is winding up his response—very soon.
Hon PETER COLLIER : All right.
The PRESIDENT : If you do not, I will!
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I do not mean to
be disrespectful to the Leader of the Opposition. I saw the comment, and my
interpretation is that the Premier was referring to the fact that the critics
of Elizabeth Quay and the big infrastructure projects need to be mindful that
the government is doing good things for Western Australia and Perth. At the
same time, the Premier is extraordinarily mindful and respectful of the
significant role of education in our community, and that is why, as I said, as
Premier, he has presided over such a massive increase in spending on education.
Hon Sue Ellery : You keep pushing that line!
Hon PETER COLLIER : It is true.
Leader of the Opposition needs to put the question into context —
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Just like Facebook.
Hon PETER COLLIER : Grow up! Goodness gracious, the honourable
member really needs to move on, I have to say—but she cannot. She
suffers from enormous irrelevance.
I will answer the
honourable member's question. I am aware of the comment. The Premier
was talking about Elizabeth Quay as opposed to education. He was talking about
Elizabeth Quay and saying that we have Elizabeth Quay and a number of
developments, such as the Northbridge Link and a raft of others. To put this is
context, the Premier was saying ''get over it'', in terms of
moving on and that the government is actually doing these things for Perth and
Western Australia to make it a better place to live. He was not reflecting in
any shape or form upon the significance of education funding in Western
Australia. As a former Minister for Education, Colin Barnett is very mindful of
the role education plays in our community. That is why as Premier he has
presided over such a significant increase in funding for education throughout the
state. As I have said before, the government has increased education funding by
more than 55 per cent since the Liberal–National government came to
office in 2008. In 2008, our schools were amongst the lowest resourced in the
nation; now they are by far the highest resourced in the nation. At the time we
came to office, teachers were lowest paid in the nation; now they are the
highest paid in the nation.
Hon Sue Ellery : Why are parents asking the question?
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Once you have asked your
question, you have to give the minister the opportunity to respond. I am sure
the minister is winding up his response—very soon.
Hon PETER COLLIER : All right.
The PRESIDENT : If you do not, I will!
Hon PETER COLLIER : Thank you, Mr President. I do not mean to
be disrespectful to the Leader of the Opposition. I saw the comment, and my
interpretation is that the Premier was referring to the fact that the critics
of Elizabeth Quay and the big infrastructure projects need to be mindful that
the government is doing good things for Western Australia and Perth. At the
same time, the Premier is extraordinarily mindful and respectful of the
significant role of education in our community, and that is why, as I said, as
Premier, he has presided over such a massive increase in spending on education.
Hon Sue Ellery : You keep pushing that line!
Hon PETER COLLIER : It is true.
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