Local Schools Infrastructure Investments

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-119773

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Local Schools Infrastructure Investments

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (12:41:55):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Notes Mosman High School, North Sydney Demo0nstration School and Neutral Bay Public School are receiving significant investments and upgrades.

(2)Acknowledges the Government has worked with the local school communities to ensure schools receive these state‑of‑the‑art upgrades.

(3)Notes the Government is delivering on its commitments to upgrade local schools.

(4)Thanks the Premier and Treasurer for investing in local school infrastructure ensuring that the Government provide the best learning for local students.

Schools in my local area and across New South Wales are reaping the benefits of the Government's investment in public education infrastructure. It has committed $7 billion over the next four years to deliver more than 200 new and upgraded schools across the State. That is the most significant investment in public education infrastructure in the history of New South Wales. It is exciting to see that early works have started in my community on the major upgrade of Mosman High School. During the recent school holidays, work commenced preparing the site with temporary classrooms, an administration office and a library that the students and teachers will use during the main upgrade works, which will start later this year. The Government has worked closely with the school community, and the wider Mosman community, to ensure that we get the design right for Mosman village and local students. I thank Principal Susan Wyatt, former P & C presidents Evan Predavec and Gerhard Beukes, and current P & C president Richard Fechner for their commitment to seeing the project through.

Mosman High School is being re-envisaged as a modern place of learning for generations to come. The constrained site will be transformed to create modular, multi-use components that will enhance students' creative and academic capacity. The exterior design of the school will complement the built environment and village aesthetic of Mosman. The upgrade includes 16 new home-base classrooms, new administration and staff facilities, a new library, a multipurpose gym and hall, an outdoor rooftop play space—which, I must say, will have views that will make many people across Sydney very jealous—and new canteen facilities. One area of the project that I am excited about is the brand-new theatre. People who know Mosman High School know that the school is renowned for its creativity, particularly in the dramatic and visual arts. Having an incredible theatre, which has been painted a stunning bright red, as an icon in the middle of the school is an exciting contribution to the students, and to the culture and values of the school. I am excited to see that the works have commenced on this once‑in‑a‑generation project. The last time Mosman High School was upgraded was under a former Liberal government and it has not had any major investment since.

Planning is also progressing for upgrades to North Sydney Demonstration School and Neutral Bay Public School. I am stoked that there will be upgrades to three major schools across my community. We are working quickly to get shovels in the ground at North Sydney Demonstration School by early next year. This much‑loved school is getting a well-deserved makeover to allow it to continue offering excellent teaching and learning facilities to the many new families that call North Sydney home. The upgrade is an investment in current and future students, and will see the replacement of the old demountables that are strewn across the campus with 16 new and refurbished classrooms, a new school hall, an upgrade to administration facilities, and improved outdoor learning spaces.

The community has played an essential part in helping shape the design so far and advocated strongly for the project. My thanks go to new principal Fiona Davies, who came to the school during COVID. She has had a challenging but already very successful first year. I also thank former principal Myra Wearne, who, for a long period, led the activity and work behind getting the infrastructure approved; former P & C presidents Laurens Liberton and David Bond, who were also very instrumental; and current P & C President Luke McElnea for their dedication to getting the project off the ground.

In the recent budget, funding was secured for a major upgrade that will fully fund Neutral Bay Public School. It will ensure that this high-performing school will continue to be a great place to learn and grow. The Government has worked with the teachers and the school community to co-design state-of-the-art new buildings that will deliver the learning needs of students and school staff. That means getting rid of demountable classrooms while ensuring that the school can accommodate future growth. A key component of that involved connecting the land along Yeo Street, which is currently utilised for the broader school community, to Kindyland through the acquisition of a property to create a bulwark between those two parts of the school. The property will soon be demolished and the land turned into space for students and teachers to use. The site is incredibly constrained, as is the case in many parts of my community due to the density of housing. These are the types of things that this Government is doing to get the school facilities and play spaces that our students need.

I acknowledge Neutral Bay Public School principal Judy Goodsell and deputy principal Victor Tan. I also acknowledge the work of the P & C over many years, particularly that of current P & C president Liz Henry. She works very closely with me on a number of matters related to the school, and not just because the school is across the road from my electorate office—we get to see each other quite a bit. I acknowledge the hard work and persistence of all the P & C members and the school council, notably council member Jillian Skinner, who has been an advocate for, and involved with, Neutral Bay Public School for more than a generation. Her decades of contribution and work to get the upgrade to the school off the ground need to be acknowledged.

The Government's is rolling out a school COVID stimulus program as part of the economic response to the pandemic. A total of $120 million from the Regional and Metro Renewal Program will provide a government co‑contribution of between 50 per cent and 80 per cent for school infrastructure improvements to high priority schools in Sydney. The projects include improvements to covered outdoor learning areas [COLAs] science facilities and toilet blocks. Seven schools in my community will benefit from the second round of funding. Mosman Public School will see its learning spaces upgraded and Mosman High School will receive an upgrade to its science labs, which is on top of a major upcoming upgrade in a different part of the school.

North Sydney Demonstration School will receive an upgrade to its staff room and staff toilets before its major upgrade kicks off. Beauty Point Public School has received funding for a hard surface COLA. Cammeraygal High School's junior campus will have work done to improve shade in the playground area. Middle Harbour Public School will receive an upgrade to its toilets. North Sydney Girls High School—with its most illustrious alumni, including the Hon. Shelley Hancock—will receive an upgrade to its science labs. Finally, North Sydney Boys High School will receive upgrades to its kitchen, prep room and storeroom for food technology classes. These projects will improve the capacity of local schools to deliver quality education for our kids. I thank the Perrottet Government and the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning for their continued investment in our schools.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ (Auburn) (12:48:16):

Despite what the Premier said in the Chamber, this Government's investment in public education infrastructure is a perfect example of a tale of two cities. I am not saying that Mosman High School should not have a redevelopment, but the redevelopment is being built to meet its growth demands by 2031—which is an increase of just over 80 students. Meanwhile, this Government has put 25,000 residents in Wentworth Point and on the Sydney Olympic Park peninsula with no high school at all. For a decade we have waited for school infrastructure, and it just has not been built. Now the Government has come up with a proposal for Sydney Olympic Park high school—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

Order! I ask the member for Blue Mountains to stop holding up signs or she will be put on a call to order.

Mrs Shelley Hancock:

Point of order—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The Clerk will stop the clock. The Minister has taken a point of order.

Mrs Shelley Hancock:

Two days ago the member for Blue Mountains held up offensive signs during debate stating, "Liar", "Moron" and "You have blood on your hands". This occurred was while I was speaking to a local government bill. I ask that her behaviour be drawn to the attention of the Speaker and that the member be either disciplined or removed from the Chamber. It is a breach of the trust that is placed in members of the Parliament.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ:

To the point of order—

Ms Sophie Cotsis:

She is representing her community in the mountains, which is sick of getting smashed.

Mrs Shelley Hancock:

Further to the point of order: If Government members held up signs like that in this Chamber the Opposition would ask for those members to be removed from the Chamber. The member for Blue Mountains has been warned and obviously has not listened.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ:

Further to the point of order: The Parliament is sitting in unusual circumstances. Members on this side of the Chamber have no opportunity to contribute to debate because a decision has been made that they cannot attend the Parliament. It is fine for the member for South Coast to get up and attack the member for Blue Mountains, but time and time again in this Chamber debate is stopped so that voices other than those of Government members are not heard. Government members deliberately stop debate in this Chamber. How many times do Opposition members have the opportunity to talk about our local communities? This Government deliberately stops debate. The member for Blue Mountains and others are stuck in their electorates and are not allowed in the Chamber. Members of Parliament have a right to represent their communities. I ask that members of Parliament be given some leeway considering the situation we find ourselves in during the COVID pandemic.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

Members of Parliament do not hold up signs in the Chamber and it is expected that the behaviour of members online reflect their behaviour in the Chamber.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ:

It is alright for the member for South Coast to sit in the Chamber and slag off the member for Blue Mountains all day. What does she do in question time?

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The member for Auburn will come to order. I call the member for Blue Mountains to order for the first time.

Mrs Shelley Hancock:

Point of order: I ask that the member for Auburn be instructed to refrain from making personal comments across the Chamber and to direct her comments through the Chair. If she had any idea of the standing orders of this place—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

I ask all members to direct all comments through the Chair.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ:

To the point of order: It would also be appreciated if during question time Government members did not sit on the back bench and constantly yell out personal remarks about members on this side of the Chamber. The member for South Coast is the biggest offender.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

Order! The member for Oatley will come to order.

Ms Felicity Wilson:

To the point of order: I understand that the member for Blue Mountains has been put on a call to order but I query whether, Mr Temporary Speaker, you will progress the request from the Minister to ensure that the Speaker reviews her conduct. Members are in this place to speak for and represent their communities. We are all bound by the standing orders, and that includes not making offensive comments, not holding up props and not attacking others, including via virtual meeting. The House is debating an important motion, and I was enjoying listening to the contribution by the member for Auburn. I do not appreciate the interjections of the member for Blue Mountains in such an inappropriate manner during debate on this motion.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

I inform members that I will bring this matter to the attention of the Speaker. However, members are here to debate the motion before the House, and that is what I intend to do. The member for Auburn has the call.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ:

As I was saying, it has been a decade for Wentworth Point and Sydney Olympic Park without a school, and now we are not getting a full high school. The Government has put forward a proposal for half a high school. I am pleased that Mosman is getting its creative arts theatre. I will give the education Minister her due; she did visit Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School. Granville South has some of the poorest kids in the State. The largest cohort of single mothers living in poverty is in Granville South. All the school wants is a space for its creative and performing arts. It has been desperately saving up money from its budget because the Government will not come to the table and provide the school with a creative arts theatre and demonstration space. Over perhaps five years the school has managed to save $1.5 million.

In my electorate there is a community garden that has been fenced up because it is dangerous. I have been asking the Government to provide $100,000 to have it removed, but the Government has not come to the party. The school does not want to use its $1.5 million, which it saved for a creative arts performing space. It is all it has got. The answer from the Government is, "No, we are not going to help you out." It seems there is one rule for those in the leafy area of Mosman, which is getting a theatre, which will be the jewel in its development, and buildings not with parapets but with sky gardens. But where is the creative arts performing space for Granville South? Those kids who desperately need it do not have it. Those creative kids need a step up. An amount of $54 million is a lot of money to spend for an additional 80 kids, when the kids out at Granville South, who are in the most desperate of circumstances, some of the poorest kids in the State—

Mrs Shelley Hancock:

That is why we are building schools there.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ:

I note the interjection of the Minister that they are building schools. There are 25,000 people down on the peninsula with no high school—

Mrs Shelley Hancock:

You closed 90 schools when you were in government!

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The Minister will come to order.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ:

Just two minutes ago the Minister talked about members' behaviour and interjections in the Chamber, but there is a constant stream of interjections from her. The Government increased the Carter Street Precinct project by another 2,000 people on three blocks. It says it is going to put a primary school there. It has already built the flats, and there will be no school for at least another five years. There are 14 demountables at Newington Public School, and they are overflowing. They cannot put any more demountables on the land because the demountables are sinking into marshland, yet the Government says it is building schools.

Mr PETER SIDGREAVES (Camden) (12:56:02):

Via video link: I contribute to debate on the motion on local schools infrastructure investments. The Camden local government area [LGA] is one of the fastest growing LGAs in Australia, currently growing at 8 per cent per annum and forecast to grow by 5.5 per cent over the next 20 years. The growth of Camden can be attributed to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) 2006, which was legislated by the former Labor Government. Knowing the growth that was coming to Camden, how many new schools do members think the Labor Government planned, constructed or opened in Camden over the following 4½ years when it was in government? Let me answer by saying, do not judge the Labor Opposition by what it says but judge it on its past record.

Since I was elected in 2019 the New South Wales Liberal-Nationals Government has opened Yandelora School in Narellan, a new state-of-the-art, purpose-built school to cater for students with moderate to severe intellectual and physical disabilities. In 2020 the Government opened a new public school in Gledswood Hills and a new high school in Oran Park, and Oran Park Public School was upgraded with an additional 24 learning spaces. These projects allowed students to start on day one, term one of 2020. This year the New South Wales Government opened Barramurra Public School on day one, term one. On Monday the new Denham Court public school welcomed kindergarten and year 1 students and will welcome students from years 2 to 6 next Monday. Further, an upgrade of Harrington Park Public School is currently under construction.

The New South Wales 2021-22 budget provides significant investment for new and upgraded schools. The New South Wales Coalition Government has allocated $4.1 million for the design of a State significant development planning process for the new public school in Gregory Hills. This school will cater for 1,000 students. Funding has been locked in for the construction of the new school and, subject to State significant development planning processes, will be completed in late 2022. The New South Wales Government has also allocated $2.1 million for the Oran Park Public School stage two upgrade. Further, the New South Wales 2021‑22 budget provides funding for school works in progress, including $868,000 for Barramurra Public School, $25,000 for Gledswood Hills Public School, $4.4 million for stage two of Gledswood Hills Public School, $17.6 million for Harrington Park Public School, $208,000 for Oran Park High School and $42,000 for Yandelora School. Through the budget, the New South Wales Liberal-Nationals Government announced that it will also invest in a new selective high school at Leppington. As part of the Government's $120 million investment to expand access to before and after school care, 47new public schools, including Camden Public School, will receive out of school hours care [OSHC] help hubs during 2021 under round one of the program. It is anticipated that an additional 45 OSHC hubs will be delivered under round two. These new hubs provide additional before and after school care, benefitting families across New South Wales. I thank the New South Wales Liberal-Nationals Government for investing in new and upgraded schools in Camden, western Sydney and across the State. The Government has taken this action because it understands the importance of learning to our children and young people in New South Wales.

Ms KATE WASHINGTON (Port Stephens) (13:00:04):

I thank the member for North Shore for bringing the motion before the House today. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the debate, because it gives me the opportunity to talk about something that is perhaps one of my most favourite topics to talk about in this place and elsewhere, and something that is the cause of the most frustration in my community, that is the Medowie High School. We are talking about the opportunities that public education unlocks. It is critical that we have public schooling in the places where it is needed. In my community of Medowie we have been fighting for a public high school for decades.

The Department of Education has owned the land in Medowie for a public high school since 1983. In 2011 the incoming Minister for Education said to my community that the project will be shovel ready in May. The former Liberal member in the House said that this project was the most important project to the community of Port Stephens. Yet, a decade on since that commitment was given to my community the Government has not lifted a finger. It refuses to meet with me. It refuses to talk to my community. It refuses to consult with my community about the project that my community wants, that is a public high school in Medowie.

We now have two independent schools in Medowie. We have Medowie's excellent Christian school and Medowie's new Catholic high school. We have no public high school. We have three primary schools and we have other primary schools around the area that would feed into it. Instead, with no public high school in Medowie we have thousands of kids on buses every day to get to a public school. The Government does have a plan, I will give it that, a plan that it did not consult the community on at all and still refuses to disclose exactly what it means. The plan is to provide upgrades to the schools in Raymond Terrace that our kids in Medowie feed into. Those upgrades are desperately needed now to provide classrooms to the students that are already. [Inaudible] the teachers are saying the students squeeze into the classrooms that are there now. Upgrades are desperately needed, but they have been designed to ensure that this Government never delivers on a public high school in Medowie.

We know that is the secret plan of the Government, yet it refuses to consult with the community, refuses to talk to my community about what it wants and it refuses, as it has done for over a decade, to deliver what the community needs, which is a public high school in Medowie. It is a growing community. There are new housing developments going into the town. Every day there are thousands of new houses for families coming on line in the town. We needed a high school a decade ago. We need it desperately now and I urge the Government to not build new infrastructure and upgrade schools just in the North Shore of Sydney, but to look beyond the boundaries of Sydney. This is a school that is desperately needed in Medowie and I urge the Government, once again, to deliver this public high school.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (13:04:09):

I am proud to speak in support of the motion brought by the member for North Shore. I think I share the view of every member in this place that no matter where you are in Greater Sydney or New South Wales, no parent would begrudge any other parent in Sydney or New South Wales getting their fair share to support and provide the education that all young people in our community deserve. While I respect the advocacy and passion of those opposite in arguing for improved schools and further services in their areas, what I do not respect is their argument. Members can see what is happening, they are using the language of division and instead of reaffirming what is best about their citizens and their communities, they are seeking to sow the seeds of divide and division and talk down their communities.

It is interesting to note that it was not a particular part of New South Wales or Sydney that led us through the COVID recovery, in fact every community across New South Wales rallied together and stood together to support one another, whether they were in the 12 local government areas of concern or not. The political tactic—this narrative of division and divide, talking down communities—that is being perpetuated by those opposite is wrong, it is cynical and they should not do it. Trying to weave it into discussions around where funding for education should or should not go is disgraceful and they will ultimately be found out.

Because whether it is a school on the North Shore or in other areas of Greater Sydney or New South Wales, what matters is that every child in our State gets the opportunity to have the best learning facilities possible. I have been hearing a lot of talk around population figures and numbers, and the need for schools in particular parts of Sydney. The Liverpool local government area, for example, has a populating of 227,000 people. The Campbelltown local government area has a population of 170,000 people. The northern beaches local government area has a population of 273,000 people. This perception and myth that there is simply no-one living on the northern beaches or that we do not have the pressures of population—

Ms Sophie Cotsis:

How much growth have you got?

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN:

We have a lot of growth. We have had a lot of growth over the past 10 years.

Ms Sophie Cotsis:

What is your growth, mate? What?

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The member for Canterbury will cease interjecting.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN:

It will continue to grow, which is why the education support will continue to be given, not just in the northern beaches but across New South Wales; whether it has been the investment in Manly Village Public School for updated administration and staffing areas; Mackellar Girls Campus, which also has a lot of demountables on its premises; or Balgowlah Boys Campus receiving a new hall, a multipurpose space, which is one of the best performing all boys public schools in New South Wales. The students do it despite the conditions they are in. That school is old and dated and they do a fantastic job. Manly West Public School has demountables, but we have funding to upgrade its toilet facilities to provide the best for its students. Harbord Public School will have old staffrooms upgraded into new administration offices.

I support the motion of the member for North Shore. She brings great news that Mosman High School is to be upgraded. It should not matter where that school is in New South Wales. The Government has made it clear, and will continue to make it clear, that irrespective of where we live in the State, we will get the support and infrastructure that we need and it will continue to build schools across the State.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (13:08:06):

I thank the member for North Shore for bringing her motion before the House. We on this side of the House have record investment in new and upgraded schools across New South Wales. This is a government that is investing $7.9 billion over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver not 100 new and upgraded schools, not 200 new and upgraded schools, but 215 new and upgraded schools across New South Wales, from the beach to the bush. In my electorate we are investing in schools, which means investing in communities. The Government is upgrading and rolling out a program of over 200 new and upgraded schools, including four in my electorate: Penshurst Public School, Hurstville Grove Infants School, Hurstville Public School and Penshurst West Public School.

I am pleased to update the House about the brand-new Penshurst Public School that has been officially opened. It includes 47 new classrooms, a brand-new library, a hall and a covered outdoor learning area. There is more. That is in addition to open play spaces, including playing courts, seating, shade structures, running tracks, new administration and staff facilities, as well as new staff and student amenities. I thank outstanding education Minister the Hon. Sarah Mitchell, former Premier Gladys Berejiklian, and former Treasurer and current Premier Dominic Perrottet for opening the space with me at the beginning of term one this year. There is even more. The works at Penshurst West Public School are done and dusted and delivered, and the students are absolutely loving them. The upgrades include new modern teaching spaces and facilities, seven new learning spaces and classrooms, a new student amenities building, a special programs room and enhanced open spaces.

Hurstville Grove Infants School has also received upgrades, including a brand-new multipurpose facility that can be used as an additional learning space, a special needs area for before- and after-school care, kitchen facilities, air conditioning and a quiet room for additional use. Hurstville Public School also now boasts one of the biggest upgrades in the local area that included an upgraded learning space, a playground and upgrades to technology, which is fantastic news for the community. Over the next four years the Government's $10 million program will give schools the opportunity to develop hands-on sustainability projects that are being rolled out right across New South Wales. When it comes to education, this Government is delivering more classrooms, more schools, more upgrades and upgrades to maintenance. Let us look at Labor's track record. When Labor was in government, 90 schools were closed and over 1,000 classrooms were cut, slashed and burned.

Ms Sophie Cotsis:

Is this a job interview?

Mr MARK COURE:

It is. Labor cannot be trusted when it comes to education. It closed 90 schools, including Narwee High School in my electorate. When it comes to education, Labor cannot be trusted.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (13:12:28):

In reply: We have heard two key themes in the debate on the motion. One is about the record level of investment that the Government is delivering across New South Wales, whether in my community or in the north, the south, the east or the west. Members spoke in detail about that investment across New South Wales. The second clear theme was about the failures of Labor throughout its time in government to deliver these outcomes. Labor closed more than 90 schools, and had a secret plan to close more and make more cuts to schools and education.

I refer to the comments of members who spoke because each of their contributions was valuable. The member for Auburn spoke about the work that she is doing to advocate for funding and investment in her local schools—a very noble goal. She spoke about the need for performing arts facilities at the Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School and education facilities at Sydney Olympic Park. I acknowledge her desire to get the best education outcomes for her community, whether at comprehensive schools or through investment in the performing arts, which is crucial to every child's education. That is why this Government invests across the State and why those opposite refused to invest in my community when they were in government, meaning that we now have to. The Government invests in every part of the State, regardless of local member or which party colour is branded on an electorate.

We heard from the member for Camden. I apologise to Mr Peter Sidgreaves because I cannot list all the new and upgraded schools that he mentioned, like Oran Park High School, Gledswood Hills Public School, Oran Park Public School, Denham Court Public School and Harrington Park Public School. I lost track because he is doing so much in his community. He also referred to the fact that Labor planned and failed to deliver school after school in his electorate. The member for Port Stephens also talked about how important the different public schools in her area are and that the community has advocated for a Medowie high school for decades. I am so sorry to hear her reiterate that Labor failed the Port Stephens electorate throughout its time in government. I am sorry to hear that the people of Port Stephens and Medowie have been failed by Labor since the 1980s. They continue to be failed by their local member, who has not delivered a high school at Medowie.

We heard from the member for Manly, who spoke quite comprehensively about how important it is for both Sydney and New South Wales to receive investment. He spoke as somebody who lives in an incredibly large local government area that is experiencing growth and where the schools, like the schools in my electorate, have to use a significant number of demountables for the kids' learning. Regardless of the fact that there might be different growth levels in different communities across the State, many of our schools have not had the response to historic growth, particularly when Labor was in government. Tons of demountables were never replaced by permanent building structures when Labor was in government. Regardless of geography, postcode or assumed socio‑economic status, our public schools need investment across the State, including in Manly.

Lastly, we heard from the bombastic member for Oatley, who spoke about the 215 new and upgraded schools and the $7.9 billion of investment. He spoke about four schools in his own electorate, including Penshurst Public School. The member for Oatley is the standard-bearer for ensuring that we invest across different parts of the community. There is a reason that voters in his electorate in southern Sydney continue to return him in greater and greater numbers. It is not because of his winning personality and charm; it is because of his hard work delivering for his community. We know he will continue to deliver for his community and local students, and will fight for students across the State. I thank members who contributed to debate on the motion. I am excited to see the ongoing investment that this Government, Premier, education Minister and Treasurer will make for students across New South Wales.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

I will now leave the chair. The House will resume at 2.15 p.m.