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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-29 Daily Xml
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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:27): Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is clear the first breach of standing orders came from the government side. My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Will the minister confirm that newly graduated teachers are moderating or changing student grades of the new SACE, awarded by veteran teachers of 30 years' experience, and that some teachers are moderating SACE grades outside of their specialist field?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:28): I thank the member for this question which, of course, goes to the matter of the new SACE. I have learnt, Madam Speaker, not to automatically accept everything it is that the member for Unley—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker: surely it is against standing orders for the minister to begin her response to a question by reflecting on the motive behind the question, and basically calling the questioner a liar.

The SPEAKER: When you can quote me the standing order then I will take your point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: It is standing order 98 that says that the minister, in answering, should address the subject of the question.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, you've made your point. The minister can answer as she chooses; however, I will follow the relevance.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a well-known fact that the member for Unley doesn't let the fact get in the way of the question—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PISONI: Clearly, standing order 127—

The SPEAKER: Order! The member will sit down. You will not shout out at me. If you choose that I will close question time. You have a point of order, member for Unley?

Mr PISONI: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Clearly, the minister is in breach of standing order 127, which states:

Digression; personal reflections on Members

A Member may not:

1. digress from the subject matter of any question under discussion;

2. or impute improper motives to any other Member;

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr PISONI: I ask that it be withdrawn, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. I would ask the minister to be very careful in her wording and withdraw that.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I withdraw that. The issue of—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, Madam Speaker. Withdrawal and apology, please.

The SPEAKER: The comment has been withdrawn. The minister does not have to apologise.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You have asked a question. Give the minister the courtesy of listening to her response.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: The issue of the moderation is a complex one. It is an issue that a number of schools are grappling with as a result of the new SACE. I do take that matter seriously. It is an important issue and, in fact, the member for Unley had a meeting just recently with the head of the SACE Board and Mr Bill Cossey, who is leading the evaluation of the SACE, and I would imagine that he in fact asked Mr Cossey this very question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Point of order, the Minister For Transport.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The member for Unley, being a stickler for standing orders, should know that he should not yell across the chamber.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, minister, and I uphold that.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I expect that this will be one of the issues that will come up in the evaluation. It is an important issue and if the member has specific examples he would like me to ask the SACE Board to follow up, I am very happy to do that.

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