Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, you would be aware that the Northern Territory funds students on an average attendance basis. If we are to expect 100 per cent attendance and enrolment in schools in the Northern Territory, it is commonly understood that most schools could not cope. What do you have in place with regard to funding for capital works, for more schools and for more teachers? Have you reached agreement with the Northern Territory government that they will adopt a more appropriate form of funding so that the resources are there in schools to accommodate not the average but the total number of students that should be in school? Obviously this is not going to happen overnight, and it would be useful to know what mechanisms you have in mind and have negotiated with the Northern Territory in this respect.