Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today in support of the Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2006, which reflects the Australian government’s funding commitments and educational priorities by providing a record $33,000 million in funding to all Australian schools over the years 2005-08. This bill provides the largest ever commitment by an Australian government to schooling in Australia. This increase in funding is a continued trend under the Howard government and marks a total increase of 158.2 per cent since 1966.

I was pleased to hear the member for Rankin have his input into this debate and be prepared to put his views on the line. Perhaps not all within his party would follow or join him in those views, but it is obvious he has a direct, sincere and close association with teachers, their professional development and the opportunities that they face within the public sector of education. I have a commitment to one of the schools that is listed in the government area, the Pakenham Secondary College, which I had two stints with as a school counsellor—a great experience.

Mr Deputy Speaker, you were not here for the member for O’Connor’s presentation, which is always entertaining, thoughtful and deep. He was, of course, assisted in that approach by the member for Canning, from Western Australia, who is another good friend of mine and is dedicated to education and the benefits that it provides to the electorate of Canning and the giant electorate that is O’Connor. We heard again the story, which the member for O’Connor has told so many times, about how much power there is in praise and how he writes 2,500 letters to every student that has gained a prize across the schools right across O’Connor.

When we talk about O’Connor, we talk about places like Geraldton, which my family has had an association with over the last few years. I know the schools the member for O’Connor was talking about in Geraldton. To those people from Geraldton that are listening today I say, ‘We appreciate the remoteness of parts of Western Australia.’ This has nothing to do with the seat of McMillan, which I will come to a minute, but it is just great to hear members talking with such passion, be it the member for Rankin on this issue or the member for O’Connor on his electorate. It was great to hear the member for O’Connor talk about that small independent school and the obviously intimate relationship that he has with his community.

I mentioned before that, whilst the Australian government is having a greater input into education than any federal government ever has before, I believe that the Investing in Our Schools initiative, an initiative of the Prime Minister’s, has been the most well-received program I have ever seen run out across Australia in my 22 years of activity as a member or a candidate—I think I have spent more time as a candidate than a member.

I have seen programs come out and the popularity of them, but I can tell you: this one is popular in all seats. It is popular in the seat of Gorton because they are making a difference. The next speaker will get up—

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