Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I did read them out 10 minutes ago in answer to your last question, Senator. I will read them out a second time, but I do not intend to read them out three or four times. It seems to me that people have to pay attention. I do not want to be difficult. I am happy for people to have an intensive committee stage, but I do not think it is reasonable that the Senate has to go over the same ground twice.

As I indicated to you, the evidence that is contained in the evaluation report of 2010 supports the effectiveness of SEAM in increasing parental responsibility in school attendance. The report found that students involved in the measure showed a greater increase in school attendance rates than their counterparts not involved in the measure and that student attendance improved by more than five per cent, from 74.4 to 79 per cent, in the Northern Territory and by more than four per cent, from 84.7 per cent to 88.7 per cent, in Queensland following referral to the Department of Human Services under SEAM. So the claims you quote do not sit comfortably with the evidence provided in the evaluation report. That is why I say I cannot support the claims made by the gentleman you quote.