EDUCATION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Why does the South Australian education department require over three times as many public servants per state school student than the Victorian education department? The South Australian education department has around 2,000 bureaucrats in its central office to service 161,000 students in our state school system. However, Victoria administers a student population of 542,000 students with only 2,200 public servants in its central office.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (15:06): I thank the member for this question. This was one of the issues identified by the opposition a couple of weeks ago when they released their education policy. I welcome the opposition entering into this policy debate. As well as copying what they are doing in Victoria, what they would also have us do is take practices, policies and procedures from New South Wales and plant them here—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The minister is entering debate. I simply asked a question about the size of the bureaucracy in the education department here in South Australia. She is debating what she claims to be Liberal Party policy.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Unley. I ask the member to refer back to the substance of the question.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I will, Madam Speaker. That was an issue contained in their policy. Our education department and the very valuable work that they do, that we do in schools, that we do in Flinders Street and that we do in regional offices is entirely appropriate for what we deliver. I am very proud of what we deliver, unlike those opposite who are very keen to have a go at it.

Mr PISONI: Point of order, Madam Speaker: the minister is entering debate.

The SPEAKER: The minister can answer questions as she chooses. However, minister, I would ask you to get back to the substance of the question.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: We staff our education department, our schools and our regional offices in the way that we see appropriate for South Australian students and their families.