SCHOOL LEAVERS

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. How is the government ensuring that students are equipped for the future when they complete school?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:58): I would like to acknowledge the outstanding community advocacy that the member for Florey does. This government appreciates just how important it is to lift the skills and job readiness of young people and also to broaden all opportunities for young South Australians. Indeed, this government has implemented a number of initiatives that are enabling thousands of young people to gain practical skills for further employment and training while they are at school.

We have acted to widen the opportunities for all young people, in particular to broaden choices to learn a trade or other skills through VET courses. Our initiatives also reflect the increasing demand by industries for more highly skilled people in a wide range of trades and occupations. These of course include our network of trade schools for the future that enable young people to gain school-based apprenticeships.

Importantly, it also includes our commitment to the new SACE, which links students into new vocational education pathways. This morning the shadow minister attacked the new SACE on two fronts. Firstly he said, 'Some interstate universities, for example, simply won't recognise the South Australian Certificate of Education because there are not enough prerequisites.' In fact, the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) has advised me that students can use the SACE to gain entry into any university in Australia and overseas, and that as far as they are aware there is no Australian university that will not accept an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) based on SACE results.

We also believe that people should have a second chance at their education, which is precisely why we have refocused adult re-entry education for those over 21 who have not completed their SACE. Just for the opposition's benefit, because he was confused about this issue on radio, as well—because we know he often gets it wrong—I will recap. If you are under 21 years of age—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order, the member for Finniss.

Mr PENGILLY: The minister referred to 'he'. Is the minister referring to the member for Unley or someone else?

The SPEAKER: Minister, there is a question through the chair.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I apologise. I am absolutely referring to the member for Unley when I refer to the fact that he gets it wrong.

Mr PISONI: Is she really able to say that I can get things wrong? I would argue that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: —she needs to apologise. She is imputing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: —127 on a member of parliament and I ask you to be—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: —bipartisan—

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr PISONI: —with your rulings. Can't have one rule for one side and not the other.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Sit down. We already have one point of order. I will hear the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: On your point of order—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Both members will sit down. You will all sit down and be quiet. Did you have a point of clarification, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I was going to offer on the point of order that it is—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Then tell me your point of clarification.

Mr WILLIAMS: A point of order has been taken and you have yet to rule on that point of order.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Sit down.

Mr WILLIAMS: On a further point of clarification, Madam Speaker, every time the opposition raises a point of order the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure displays his lack of confidence in your ability to adjudicate on the point of order.

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr WILLIAMS: And stands up and takes a further point of order in order to give you instructions.

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr WILLIAMS: And I think it reflects very poorly on you—

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for MacKillop. You can sit down; I don't need your protection, thank you. On my listening to the minister I did not think she particularly reflected on the member, but I will listen very carefully. If there was a reflection on the member, I would ask her to withdraw it.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Minister, if you can go back to the answering of the question.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Yes. I will recap for the benefit of the member. If you are under 21 years of age you can attend adult re-entry colleges regardless of whether you have the SACE or not, but anyone who has not completed their SACE, regardless of their age, is eligible to undertake the SACE.

This government absolutely has a plan for the future for our students which includes things like empowering local schools, the new SACE, our commitment to the national curriculum, additional support for numeracy, literacy and, of course, the radical creation of this new agency. Madam Speaker, I ask the member opposite, as I did last week—there was a stunning silence—'What's your plan?'

The SPEAKER: I think, listening to the minister's answer then, it probably clarifies the point that she made. However, if the member still feels upset by it he can come and talk to me after question time.