After a record-breaking tenure as ACT Education Minister, Andrew Barr attended his last school event yesterday before handing the portfolio to ACT Labor's newest MLA Chris Bourke.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Mr Barr holds the distinction of not only being the longest-serving ACT Education Minister after nearly six years, but he is also the youngest, having landed the portfolio when he was just 32.
While both he and Dr Bourke share the experience of election to the ACT Assembly through a count-back - following the resignations of Ted Quinlan and Jon Stanhope respectively - Dr Bourke has had six months in the Assembly to get the hang of things while Mr Barr took on the portfolio immediately. He remains Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
Mr Barr, who was proudly educated in the ACT government school system, said he had mixed feelings about relinquishing the role.
With his mother and brother both teachers, Mr Barr said he had a natural affinity with education issues. ''I definitely have mixed emotions about leaving, although I will admit the workload has been huge in covering three major portfolios.''
Mr Barr said it was fitting that his last event celebrated an anti-homophobia art exhibition at Stromlo High, in which he announced a $50,000 pool for ACT schools to combat homophobia.
Mr Barr is the ACT's first openly gay MLA and has campaigned for same-sex marriage.
''It's an area that sticks out as needing leadership and if I have helped in providing a role model then I am happy,'' he said.
Mr Barr cites a raft of school closures by the ACT Government in his first months as minister as a baptism of fire and the toughest time in the job. ''There is nothing Canberrans hold more dear than the concept of having a local school, and while people to this day will dispute the decision, I think history will show that it was the right decision.''
Money flowing from the closed schools, along with record investments by the ACT Government in education, has ''seen ACT schools prosper as a result and we can all be proud of the system and how well it works''.
Asked about his proudest achievements, he said, ''Well, I think the overhaul of school infrastructure, the enhancement of specialised teaching resources, the performing arts centres, and gymnasiums for every single high school in the ACT have been pretty significant events''.
Mr Barr also cited the ACT's lead role in implementing the national curriculum and in pushing for education reform at a national level as proud achievements.
With teachers inching towards a resolution on a seven-month negotiation about a new enterprise bargaining agreement, Mr Barr said he hoped Dr Bourke could put his own stamp on the portfolio.
As Treasurer, Mr Barr said he would be taking a lead role in negotiating any reforms to the University of Canberra and Canberra Institute of Technology after recommendations from the Bradley review that they be merged.
''I won't be completely out of the education loop given I am ACT Treasurer and education takes up a quarter of the territory's budget and provides a quarter of its employees.''
