INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:38): My question is again to the Premier or the education minister. Will the minister guarantee that arrangements under the new funding model being proposed for schools are not designed to close small schools by a death of 1,000 cuts gradually forcing them to become unviable? A leaked department of education study has shown that, in terms of the 2006 enrolment levels, 175 schools will be worse off under the government's funding model. Basket Range Primary School is shown in the study to be $78,000 worse off under the new funding model. The current chair of the school governing council has estimated a loss of one of the school's four teachers and a reduction in classes from three to two.

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:39): I think that, in part, I have already answered that question. However, I ask the honourable member to table his information and, as I have said, we will look at that. To the best of my knowledge, schools will not be worse off. Certainly, in regard to the honourable member's question, and despite the fact that he is interjecting—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT: —for small schools, certainly, it is not meant to be a death by a 1,000 cuts; quite the opposite.