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| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
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Legislative
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| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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SCHOOL INTERNET ACCESS
The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Treasurer, representing the Minister for Education, a question about school internet access through sa.edu.
Leave granted.
The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: My question relates to internet access pricing information for all Department for Education, Training and Employment sites. The State government through the DECS tech 2001 project recently introduced an initiative to provide internet access to all DETE sites. This initiative has been named `sa.edu' and aims to have all sites online by the end of 2001. Under the title Pathway SA, the basis of this initiative was a contract signed with Telstra Corporation Ltd to provide a series of internet access points, known as POPs, across the state. Schools have recently received a package of information about this initiative, which includes a description of the new service, information implementation issues and guidelines relating to local area networks. Notably, pricing information has not been released outside DETE.
It has been put to me that, if the government is serious about shifting decision making and financial responsibility to school councils, surely it must agree that school councils be given the freedom and information to effectively manage their internet access requirements. While there is no compulsion that DETE sites use sa.edu for student access, it must be noted that those that do not use the Telstra ISDN will receive no support from DETE; the current system nexus will not be available after an initial transition period; the school administration network will be connected to sa.edu; and Partnerships 21 schools will be given priority in the service roll-out. This raises important questions about how much information is available to school councils and how free schools are in their decision over sa.edu. Understandably, the issue of pricing and services is important to school councils currently considering Partnerships 21. I ask the minister:
1. If the costs for sa.edu are very competitive, as the state government claims, why then are the pricing arrangements being kept in confidence? I note that any private person seeking prices usually finds Telstra very expensive for internet access- much more expensive than many other operators.
2. Does this confidentiality extend to principals and school councils at DETE sites currently considering involvement in Partnerships 21?
3. How much of the student access costs associated with participating in sa.edu will have to be covered by the school council in the Partnerships 21 global budget?
4. What tender process was undertaken by the state government before deciding that Telstra Corporation Limited would be the most efficient and economically viable internet access provider?
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I will refer the honourable member's questions to the minister and bring back a reply.
See the Government's Reply: 25 May 2000
