RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

31 Oct 2012 Appropriation (Parliament) Bill; Appropriation Bill 2323
The fact of the matter is that when it comes to education—in fact, when it comes to any policy—
the Newman government has been a beacon of decency to men and women throughout Queensland. In
fact, if anything, our record after seven months puts the record of the previous inept Labor government
over the past 20-plus years to absolute shame.
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Mrs CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—Ind) (9.50 pm): I rise to speak to the Education and Innovation
Committee report. In doing so, I acknowledge the establishment by the previous government of 129
kindergarten services in areas of need. We had a couple established in the Gladstone electorate, and I
certainly hope it is a precursor of many more to come. Quite a number of young people come to
Gladstone with their mums and dads for the work that is in the electorate, and the waiting lists for
kindergartens are significant.
I note that there were questions in relation to the implementation of the national curriculum in
English, maths and science from 2012 and history from 2013. I welcome that. I think the building block
for any student is having good literacy and numeracy skills. If they have that, even if there are other
gaps in their education, they have the tools to be able to fill those gaps either by themselves or with
other tuition.
The federal government is talking about Asian languages being mandatory. I know that in my own
electorate with LOTE—languages other than English—many parents struggle if the students in their
family with low language skills in English have to study a foreign language. I certainly hope that there is
some flexibility built into this federal government requirement in relation to the appropriateness of
students accessing and undertaking an Asian language learning program and that priority be given to
their literacy and numeracy as a basic building block.
There is mention of the investment of $1.4 million as part of an additional $10.9 million over four
years to expand support for students with disabilities in state and non-state schools. About 10 years
ago, there was a real push for full inclusion of students with a disability into state schools—it was called
mainstreaming. It allowed many students to aim higher with their potential achievement, but I remain a
believer in the fact that students should be matched with the type of education that they should access
and the type of education that they need. In my electorate there is a school called Rosella Park School,
which is a supported education learning centre, and it is the appropriate place for some students. Full
inclusion in state and non-state schools has put a great deal of responsibility on teachers and has
focused on their ability to manage the disabilities. Some of the disabilities are intellectual and some of
them are physical, but they all require specified and specific management. It is certainly important to
invest not only in the school curriculum material but also in the personnel to properly address the needs
of those students.
It is also noted that there are additional resources in this budget for prep classes. When prep
classes were introduced by the former government, one of the greatest concerns for teachers was the
lack of consideration of proper resourcing, and it was human resources that were lacking. Teachers in
prep classes were not given sufficient teacher aide time to allow for even just safe toileting of some of
these little people, and for some of these children it was their first time away from home. I am pleased to
welcome resources for prep classes, and these are also necessary for the transitioning of year 7 into
secondary school. Each move will be achieved successfully if they are properly resourced.
I welcome the minister’s recent visit to talk with the TAFE campus in relation to the proposed
merger of TAFE and Central Queensland University. The TAFE teachers in particular felt very isolated in
terms of the information about the proposed merger, and Minister Langbroek came up and spoke with
the teachers in my electorate and in Rockhampton and Mackay, I think. The feedback I have had is very
positive in that they feel they are part of the process and that the minister was able to answer their
concerns.
There is disappointment in the electorate with the defunding of Skilling Queenslanders for Work.
Those who are involved in that program felt that it achieved good results, and I certainly believe that this
move requires reconsideration. I put on the record the wonderful training that GAGAL provides,
particularly the Try a Trade area. They even have primary school students who come and improve their
literacy and numeracy just through the process of trying some of their trades. Education is life.
Mrs RICE (Mount Coot-tha—LNP) (9.55 pm): I am very pleased to rise tonight in support of the
report of the Education and Innovation Committee’s consideration of the 2012-13 portfolio budget
estimates. I would like to begin by acknowledging the committee for the thorough consideration they
gave to these budget estimates and the committee secretariat for the support they provided throughout
the hearing and the subsequent reporting process. At this point, I would also like to acknowledge the
support and professionalism of the directors-general of the Department of Education, Training and
Employment and the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts and all of
the officers in their departments.