Public School Fees

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta) (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Education. Did the minister discuss the letter in question with the chief executive of the education department or any member of the senior executive group in the Department for Education? Who was it who gave the instruction to education directors to distribute, to instruct principals to distribute that letter?

The Hon. B.I. BOYER (Wright—Minister for Education, Training and Skills) (14:30): Thanks to the member again for that question. I will have to go and get some answers. That's a pretty detailed question. The member obviously wants a very precise time line here about exactly what took place. He knows full well how many things are going on in the education minister's office at any one time and in the department. There may have been a discussion about what communication was going out around the announcement about the $100 off the materials and services charge. I can't recall whether that was a conversation I had. More likely, it was probably a conversation that occurred between my—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: More likely, it was a conversation that would have occurred between my staff and the department. I'm happy to check that. As I said, and as I have said publicly in the past, the approach I am trying to take as the new Minister for Education is to be out on the front foot when there's good news and out on the front foot when there might be bad news. I think it's a very easy trap to fall into as the minister that you use the department always as a shield. I think my predecessor did a bit of that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta! The minister has the call.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: I think my predecessor did a fair bit of that. When there was good news and plaques to be cut, he was everywhere. When there was some bad news to front up to, he was nowhere—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: When there was bad news in the portfolio, which happens from time to time—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley!

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: It's such a very large—

An honourable member: Nine to five.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: Nine to five, yes, I have heard the nine to five one—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: —passed on to me by some departmental people, that's right, but it's important as minister that you also front up when the news is bad news. I have tried to make sure that I am a minister who does both those things. I proudly had my name, as did the Premier, on this communication that we sent out to families to make sure that all South Australian families in the public education system get the opportunity—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders!

The Hon. B.I. BOYER: —to save this $100 off their materials and services charge this year and next year as well.