michaelferguson.com

David Bartlett has seen the light.  Maybe someone other than him is capable of an original thought!

At Budget Estimates last month, I played a game of cat and mouse with our Premier regarding what I regard as a flawed model to rollout fibre-optic around Tasmania. The Premier’s model which asked required people to read, understand and return documentation (ie “opt-in”) has resulted in less than half of the eligible homes and businesses to get the fibre dropped to their premises, at no cost to themselves. …

The Opposition has introduced legislation into Parliament today, at the first opportunity, to overhaul Labor’s failed Tasmania Tomorrow experiment.  Click here to see the bill:  Secondary Colleges _Restoration_ Bill 2010

The Secondary Colleges (Restoration) Bill 2010 has been tabled, and will now be open for consultation, input and possible improvement from stakeholders, including other political parties.

The Bill abolishes the Tasmanian Academy and the Tasmanian Polytechnic from 1 January 2011. It also provides transitional arrangements to protect the employment of teaching and other staff in both organisations. …

Today’s Education Performance Report is yet another nail in the coffin of Tasmania Tomorrow.

Tasmania Tomorrow was supposed to address issues of absenteeism and retention in our post-year 10 education system, however after the first year of operation student attendance figures have got worse, and there is apparently no data available on the crucial retention rates. …

I am interested in exploring Minister Thorp’s offer to work constructively in addressing the significant problems with David Bartlett’s failed Tasmania Tomorrow experiment.

It’s the first sign that the government may have heard the message from parents, students, teachers, industry and now the voting public. …

I’ve just driven back up North from two days in Hobart.  Getting familiar with the Tasmanian Parliament and setting up for the time ahead.

While driving, I listened to the live broadcast of the caretaker Premier Bartlett breathing his pathetic attempt to argue that somehow Will Hodgman had “failed to form a government” despite Labor’s supposed best efforts to facilitate the change. …

A Hodgman Liberal Government will halt the merger proposed between Waverley Primary and St Leonards Primary at least until there has been proper consultation with both school communities. …

The Bartlett Labor government has failed to properly consult and respect the wishes of the Waverley Primary School community in its rush to merge the school with St Leonards Primary School.

I have been contacted by several parents of WPS students who are angry at the way the merger has been promoted and so-called ‘ballots’ counted.

Clearly, counting unreturned ballots as a ‘yes’ vote is a rort. …

A Hodgman Liberal Government will improve public safety in Launceston’s centre by providing up to $100,000 for a new police and information booth in the Mall.

We will also expand police ‘move on’ powers to provide a new provision for a 24 hour ban, at the discretion of the police. …

David Bartlett has confirmed via Facebook that he has broken his “rock-solid” promise to members of the A-Team Support Group that he would consult them and remain available for personal contact in the event of a breakdown with his department. …

A Hodgman Liberal Government will raise education standards by overhauling Tasmania Tomorrow and investing $30 million in revitalising our high schools, focussing on results, and providing more support to our students and teachers.

Under a Hodgman Liberal Government, there will be no more experimentation with our childrens’ education.

We will overhaul Tasmania Tomorrow based on strong feedback from teachers, students, parents, industry, and the community that Labor has got it wrong. …