Yunta Rural School

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:25): My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Can the minister advise the house of who he nominated as his representative member to the Yunta Rural School review committee, as required by the Education Act, section 14C, in any circumstances when consideration for closing a government school not situated within a council area is occurring?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development) (15:26): The closure of the Yunta school, which initially had the support of the member for Stuart, has obviously—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: When there were two students. Now there are seven.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Well, now there are seven. They say it is going to be seven. There have been two students, there have been four students, there have been seven students, and this has been the cycle year after year after year—year after year after year. The important thing, the thing that the member for Stuart should be advocating, should be to ensure—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: What is the point of order?

Ms CHAPMAN: The member for Stuart asked a very simple question.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I know what the question is, whether someone was appointed to a school council.

Ms CHAPMAN: Who was appointed? Not the council, to the review committee.

The SPEAKER: No; I think we're clear on it. Minister.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I am happy to outline who was on this particular committee. On the committee was Yvonne Lloyd, the presiding member, former principal of Jamestown and Risdon Park primary schools; Dr Mike Dillon, currently contracted to DECD, special education, and former manager of capital works; a community leader; the education director; an Australian union representative; the principal of the school; and a nominee from the school governing council. We had people from that community on that review committee and the review was implemented by me because the parents of the school couldn't bring themselves to make the decision to close the school. No-one can run a school and provide an effective education for two children. The fact that there may be seven children next year—we were looking at maybe having six children at the start of this year—still does not provide children—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Concentrate on whether the children are going to get a decent education instead of worrying about a handful of votes that will make no difference whatsoever.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is—

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: A moron, sir.

The SPEAKER: I'm sorry; no. The member for Newland will withdraw that remark and apologise.

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: Sir, I withdraw and I do apologise.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned and you can't ask supplementaries after the time for asking questions has expired. The Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation.