Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

No, one week. I say to the honourable member for Gilmore, who I have a great regard for, ‘Why do it? Aren’t all schoolchildren of equal importance? Why aren’t all schoolchildren treated as being of equal importance?’ In fact, I was not going to mention it, but we contacted the appropriate ministerial office and we were told when it was going out to coalition seats and when we would be notified.

I cannot tell you the stress that puts on schools. Rooty Hill Primary School wanted to put in a first-class submission for their application and they spent $3,000 of their school funds to do so. Why do it—why put this pressure on schools? I say: if we have a national program, like Investing in Our Schools, then we should treat all schools equally. (Time expired)

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

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