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Mr IAN COHEN: My question is directed to the Treasurer. Is the Treasurer aware of mooted cuts to environment and Aboriginal resource units in the New South Wales Department of Education and Training that have been forced on the Minister for Education and Training in order to fund the provision of more teachers in the classroom? Is the Treasurer also aware that such cuts are inconsistent with the Government's increased funding for environment and Aboriginal issues in other areas? Will the Treasurer release funds for more classroom teachers from the massive Treasury surplus instead of downgrading the teaching of Aboriginal and environmental studies?
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: The Education budget this year is again a record budget. From recollection, this year's budget saw an increase of some $500 million over last year's budget. That is a huge increase. When the mob opposite was in government we did not see increases in the Education budget of that size; we saw swinging cuts. Not only did we see cuts to education but also I recall a lot of cuts to the Department of Community Services.
The Hon. Carmel Tebbutt: A thousand staff.
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: A thousand staff! The Coalition would have replicated those cuts if it had won the last State election. I will obtain some details about the other aspects of Mr Ian Cohen's question.