13870 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Thursday 16 August 2012 __________ The President (The Hon. Donald Thomas Harwin) took the chair at 9.30 a.m. The President read the Prayers. Pursuant to sessional orders Formal Business Notices of Motions proceeded with. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FUNDING Motion by the Hon. MARIE FICARRA agreed to: 1. That this House notes that: (a) over 100,000 New South Wales school students with disabilities will now have greater access to classroom support and equipment due to a $63 million investment from the Commonwealth Government, (b) this funding, secured by the Hon. Adrian Piccoli, MP, in his capacity as Minister for Education, will assist students in public, Catholic, and independent schools finish their education and secure employment over the next two years, (c) without this additional support, students with disabilities are less likely to finish their twelfth year, increasing the likelihood of unemployment and social exclusion, (d) $47.9 million will be invested in New South Wales government schools to assist over 90,000 students with disabilities, learning difficulties, or additional behaviour needs from over 2,200 schools, (e) $11.3 million will be set aside for Catholic schools and $3.8 million towards mainstream and special independent schools, (f) this investment has the support of both the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales and the Catholic Education Commission of New South Wales, and (g) this investment will also: (i) provide the appropriate technologies to support students needs to work more independently so we build capacity in our education systems to support children with disabilities or special needs, (ii) support the establishment of specialist teacher support in every New South Wales government school, (iii) provide professional development and other support materials to assist teachers in developing a curriculum that will help to meet students individual learning and support needs of students with disabilities, (iv) expand specialist support services and resource options for students with complex disabilities and high support needs, and (v) provide health, allied health or other professionals to strengthen schools support for students with a disability. 2. That this House acknowledges the Hon. Adrian Piccoli, MP, for his leadership as Minister for Education in working to provide the best education system for students across New South Wales, particularly those with intellectual or physical disabilities. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Formal Business Notices of Motions Private Members' Business items Nos 811 and 814 outside the Order of Precedence objected to as being taken as formal business. 16 August 2012 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 13871 SYDNEY FULL GOSPEL CHURCH KOREAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL Motion by the Hon. MARIE FICARRA agreed to: 1. That this House notes that on 23 June 2012 members of the Korean Australian community in New South Wales celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of Sydney Full Gospel Church Korean Language School at Greenacre. 2. That this House acknowledges: (a) the work of Mr Jay Han of the Sydney Full Gospel Church Korean School for bringing the celebration to fruition, (b) those that attended, particularly: (i) Mr Kim Han Joo, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea and Director of the Korean Education, (ii) the Hon. Victor Dominello, MP, Minister for Citizenship and Communities and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, (iii) Mr Charles Casuscelli, MP, member for Strathfield, (iv) the Hon. Marie Ficarra, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, (v) Ms Tania Mihailuk, MP, member for Bankstown (vi) Councillor Khal Asfour, Mayor of Bankstown, (vii) members of the Korean Australian community, (c) the ongoing commitment and pastoral leadership of Reverend Woosung Chung, Senior Pastor and President of the Sydney Full Gospel Korean Language School, (d) the dedication of the 38 teachers educating 278 students across five locations, including Greenacre, Blacktown, Ryde, Chatswood and Castle Hill, and (e) the Sydney Full Gospel Church Korean Language School for its contributions in supporting an increasingly multilingual population. CHINESE AUSTRALIAN FORUM Motion by the Hon. MARIE FICARRA agreed to: 1. That this House notes that on 30 June 2012 members of the Australian Chinese community gathered for the annual dinner of the Chinese Australian Forum [CAF] at Haymarket. 2. That this House acknowledges: (a) the work of Mr Patrick Voon, President, Chinese Australian Forum, and other members of the Chinese Australian Forum executive for bringing the event to fruition, (b) those that attended, particularly: (i) the Hon. Julie Bishop, MP, Federal Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, (ii) the Hon. Victor Dominello, MP, Minister for Citizenship and Communities and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, (iii) the Hon. Marie Ficarra, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, (iv) Mr Matt Kean, MP, member for Hornsby, (v) Mr Mark Coure, MP, member for Oatley, (vi) Dr Geoff Lee, MP, member for Parramatta, (vii) Mr Rob Furolo, MP, shadow Minister for Citizenship, (viii) members of the Australian Chinese community, (c) the performance by Ms Jenny Wong and Ms Cynthia Su, 13872 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 16 August 2012 (d) the Chinese Australian Forum who provide a forum for education and debate amongst its members, and a voice for Chinese Australians to air their views on important issues including race relations, immigration, citizenship, discrimination, multiculturalism and social justice, and (e) the significant and positive contribution of the Chinese community of New South Wales who contribute to the economic and cultural prosperity of New South Wales. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Routine of Business [During the giving of notices of motions.] The PRESIDENT: Order! The giving of notices of motions is not an opportunity for debate. Members will have an opportunity to contribute to debate on the motions for which notice is being given at the appropriate time. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Postponement of Business Private Members' Business item No. 2 in the Order of Precedence postponed on motion by the Hon. Robert Brown. SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT Motion by the Hon. Duncan Gay agreed to: That this House at its rising today adjourn until Tuesday 21 August 2012 at 2.30 p.m. WOMEN IN POLITICS Debate resumed from 14 June 2012. The Hon. CATE FAEHRMANN [9.45 a.m.]: I speak on behalf of The Greens to this motion, which was moved by the Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones. The Greens will not support this motion in its present form. The first paragraph, which notes the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the right of women to vote and to stand as candidates in elections for the Australian Federal Parliament, contains a very worthy sentiment and it would be difficult to find anyone who would not support it. However, the following paragraphs of the motion amount merely to a political pointscoring exercise rather than an acknowledgment of female parliamentarians and women who aspire to be parliamentarians and a celebration of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the right of women to vote. The Hon. Sophie Cotsis has moved an amendment to the motion to include an acknowledgement of the achievements of female parliamentarians from the Labor Party. The motion of the Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones acknowledges the parliamentary achievements only of female members of the Coalition parties. It lists their achievements giving the impression that no other female parliamentarians in this country are worthy enough to be recognised. The Hon. Sophie Cotsis tried to balance that to some extent by recognising the achievements of female Labor parliamentarians who have made significant contributions. That is fair enough, but it is also a party-political perspective and does not recognise women of all political persuasions, including members of parties that have no representation in this Parliament who should also be acknowledged. We should not be indulging in political pointscoring on this issue. If we are to do female politicians and would-be politicians any justice, we should amend the motion so that it pays feminism and the fight for women's rights the respect they deserve. I will not support the Labor Party's amendment. In drafting my broad-ranging amendment I have tried not to be party political in that it recognises the significant contribution that women from across the political spectrum have made in Australia. On behalf of The Greens I move: That the question be amended as follows: 1. Omit paragraph 1 (b) and insert instead: (b) The significant electoral milestones for women in Australia that have been achieved by the Labor, Coalition, Greens and other parties, which include but are not limited to: (i) Coalition member Dame Enid Lyons, MP, as the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and to hold a Federal Cabinet position, (ii) Labor member Julia Gillard, MP, as Australia's first female Prime Minister, 16 August 2012 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 13873 (iii) Australian Democrats member Janine Haines as the first woman elected as parliamentary leader of an Australian political party, (iv) the majority of the Australian Greens party room being women, including leader Senator Christine Milne. 2. Omit paragraph 2 and insert: 2. That this House calls on all political parties to ensure better female representation in order to build on these achievements. The issue of women achieving the vote goes back a very long way. It is important for all of us in this place not to trivialise the fight of women over more than a century to win the right to vote and to be represented at political levels. Whether conservative or progressive, all political parties should do their utmost to ensure that women are represented in politics. Having said that, I acknowledge that some parties do more to promote female representation than others. The Greens have a good equal opportunity clause in its constitution that ensures that if The Greens elect four people to its upper House or Senate ticket two must be women and one of the top two must be a woman.