SCHOOLS, REPORTING

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Education. When will parents be able to access data and analyse results on individual schools online?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley.

Mr PISONI: Thank you, sir. Would you like me to start again?

The SPEAKER: I think you might have to.

Mr PISONI: My question is to the Minister for Education. When will parents be able to access data and analyse results on individual schools online, and does this mean that parents will be able to choose the school of their choice for their child regardless of zoning? At the Ministerial Council of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in Adelaide on 17 April 2009, the federal Minister for Education and the state minister signed off on a report of school reporting proposals based on WA website Schools Online where parents can compare results from different schools to enable them to obtain reliable, clear information about what is happening in their schools.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (15:06): I thank the member for Unley for the question. I have to say that he is in a very weak position in discussing public schools, because if you remember his last public comment about public education, and I quote—

Ms CHAPMAN: I rise on a point of order.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: —he said it was rotten to the—

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Education will take her seat.

Ms CHAPMAN: The question was very simply about whether a certain program is going to be introduced pursuant to an agreement. There was no comment made about public schools.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms CHAPMAN: It is clearly debate.

The SPEAKER: Order! Yes, the minister cannot debate the question.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: The member's question related to the assessment and the capacity of parents to assess the quality of public schools in South Australia. As you would all recall, the member for Unley has said, and I quote, 'Public education in South Australia is rotten to the core.'

Ms CHAPMAN: I rise on a point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms CHAPMAN: That is clearly defying your order and going back to the question of public comment on public education, and that is in complete defiance of your order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am not sure what the quote—I cannot second guess the minister. Sometimes things that may not be apparent to the chair as being relevant to the question end up being quite relevant to the question, in the same way as often explanations from members asking questions, their relevance to the question at first may not be apparent. But I always give members an opportunity to complete their explanation so that in case that relevance is not apparent I might be able to determine so. I am sure this quote has something to do with the question; I am sure the minister will do so.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: I thank you, sir, for your ruling. It is quite clear that whatever information goes on the website, the member for Unley has made up his mind. His view of public education is derogatory.

Ms CHAPMAN: I rise on a point of order. This has now gone beyond debate. This is now accusation about the view of the questioner.

The SPEAKER: Order! Yes, whatever the views of the member for Unley, I do not think they have anything to do with the question. The Minister for Education.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: The reality is that the federal government is, in fact, involved in a massive reform agenda in education across the country and is investing an extraordinary amount of money, not just in the general level of funding to schools but in building, capital works and maintenance, also targeting low SES schools, literacy and numeracy and teacher equality. This massive agenda requires that the money that is spent is assessed properly and audited. I think it is quite appropriate that the schools should have a similar format—

Ms CHAPMAN: Again, this is nothing to do with funding: it is a question about the implementation of an agreement the minister has signed about accessing data.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. Has the minister completed her answer?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: Thank you, sir. It is quite apparent that when very large investments of money into the public system, as well as the non-government systems—both independent and Catholic—are concerned one does need to have the capacity to assess and document the impact of that spending reasonably across schools and compare particularly like schools. The system the MCEETYA group agreed on was not one I am sure the member opposite would like, that is, league tables, because he thinks all public schools are rotten to the core.

Mr PISONI: On a point of order, I have asked the minister a question, but she keeps referring to me. Honestly!

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley will take his seat. The minister is now debating.