Opposition MP J.H.D. Day questions Premier Carpenter on his confidence in the Minister for Education and Training, referencing a political analyst's suggestion of a reshuffle. Carpenter affirms his support, highlighting the difficulty of the role and ongoing reforms.

AnsweredQoN 790Legislative Assembly
Asked
25 October 2006
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING - PREMIER’S CONFIDENCE
I refer to the comment on ABC radio last Friday by the political analyst, Professor David Black, to the effect that it may well be time for the Premier, perhaps around Christmas, to reshuffle the ministry and move the Minister for Education and Training somewhere else. Does the Minister for Education and Training have the Premier’s full confidence, or will there be a new Minister for Education and Training by the start of the next school year? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member so much for the question! Who made that remark? Mr J.H.D. Day : Professor David Black. Are you going to deride him? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, I have been a big fan of David Black for a long time now. He engages in the political debate in a constructive way; probably more constructively than many other people in Western Australia. If I did not believe that the Minister for Education and Training should be in that position, she would not be in that position. Mr J.H.D. Day : Is she doing a good job? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member so much for the question! Who made that remark? Mr J.H.D. Day : Professor David Black. Are you going to deride him? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, I have been a big fan of David Black for a long time now. He engages in the political debate in a constructive way; probably more constructively than many other people in Western Australia. If I did not believe that the Minister for Education and Training should be in that position, she would not be in that position. Mr J.H.D. Day : Is she doing a good job? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.
I thank the member so much for the question! Who made that remark? Mr J.H.D. Day : Professor David Black. Are you going to deride him? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, I have been a big fan of David Black for a long time now. He engages in the political debate in a constructive way; probably more constructively than many other people in Western Australia. If I did not believe that the Minister for Education and Training should be in that position, she would not be in that position. Mr J.H.D. Day : Is she doing a good job? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.
Mr J.H.D. Day : Professor David Black. Are you going to deride him? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, I have been a big fan of David Black for a long time now. He engages in the political debate in a constructive way; probably more constructively than many other people in Western Australia. If I did not believe that the Minister for Education and Training should be in that position, she would not be in that position. Mr J.H.D. Day : Is she doing a good job? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : No, I have been a big fan of David Black for a long time now. He engages in the political debate in a constructive way; probably more constructively than many other people in Western Australia. If I did not believe that the Minister for Education and Training should be in that position, she would not be in that position. Mr J.H.D. Day : Is she doing a good job? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.
If I did not believe that the Minister for Education and Training should be in that position, she would not be in that position. Mr J.H.D. Day : Is she doing a good job? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.
Mr J.H.D. Day : Is she doing a good job? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have said that. It is a very difficult job. When the government was elected, it embarked on a pathway of reform. That always draws out opposition from people who do not like what the government is doing. It is not an easy ride; it was not when I was Minister for Education and Training. The opposition provided all those questions last week and the government has answered them. If the government decides to make some changes, I guarantee the opposition will not be the first to know.

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