FRANCIS BURT LAW
EDUCATION PROGRAMME
951. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the
Department of Education's advice to the Law Society of Western Australia
that it will cease funding the Francis Burt Law Education Programme from 1 July
2019.
(1)
Given that with the passage of the Duties
Amendment (Additional Duties for Foreign Persons) Bill 2018 the McGowan
government will have an additional $123 million in revenue over the next four
years, more than it requires to freeze TAFE fees, will the minister undertake
to ensure the reinstatement of the modest $110 000 sought for the continuation
of this important legal education program?
(2)
If the funding is not provided, what does the minister understand to be the
fate of the program; and, so that she may make a reasoned, rather than a difficult
or hard decision regarding funding, what steps has she taken to find out?
(3) What steps has
the minister taken to date to restore funding to the program; and, if none, why
not?
(4)
What steps will the minister be taking to restore funding or support to the
program and to provide certainty regarding its future?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
(1)
This question is another example of the strategy of the Liberal–National
government that led to the catastrophic financial position of this state by
spending the same money many times over. To answer: the agreement between the
Law Society of Western Australia and the Department of Education expires on 30 June
2019.
(2)
The Law Society of Western Australia was notified by letter in December 2017
that the agreement would not be renewed at its conclusion, thus allowing 18
months for the Law Society to seek alternative sources of funding for its
programs or to adjust the services it provides. Department officers have met
with and provided information to the law society that may assist it to identify
alternative sources of funding. The decision to review the Department of
Education's external funding agreements was done in support of budget
repair measures to return the state budget to surplus in 2021.
(3)–(4)
The decision to cease funding to the program will remain. As advised on 11
October 2018, should the Law Society secure alternative funding to cover the
salary cost of a teacher, the Department of Education would be willing to
investigate the possibility of a teacher secondment.