Page 918 - Week 03 - Thursday, 7 April 2022
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Calwell High School—safety
MS CASTLEY: My question is to the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. Minister, following the WorkSafe closure of Calwell High School, there has been deep concern expressed by parents and the community. Today’s Canberra Times has a report titled, “Parents consider pulling students out of Calwell High School following reports of violence.” One parent stated, “How do you send them back if you know they could get injured?” Another mother said her daughter did not want to return after being verbally abused by other students. Minister, how do parents send their children back to a school when they know they could get injured or verbally abused?
MS BERRY: Again, I will say that we need to be very careful in this place about how we speak about these kinds of concerning issues. This obviously has been a serious situation, and we do not want to unnecessarily scare people about the situation.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Members, let the minister answer.
MS BERRY: Anywhere else, this kind of behaviour would be bullying, but for some reason the opposition thinks it is okay to continue to make snide comments and continuous interruptions.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Ms Lee!
Opposition members interjecting—
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Members, enough! I will be warning members, shortly.
Mr Gentleman: I have a point of order. Standing orders make it very clear that members cannot be interrupted while they are on their feet. Standing orders make it very clear about how questions can be put and answered. This level of interruption is unacceptable, and I ask you, Mr Acting Speaker, to please deal with these interruptions and ensure that they do not occur again.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: I think Mr Gentleman has a good point. The level of interjections is rising to a level which is past my threshold. Members, I would ask you to restrain yourselves.
MS BERRY: As I said, it is irresponsible for us in this place to make comments that suggest that sending a child to school is going to scare them or that their school is unsafe. Our schools are generally safe places to be. There has been an incident at a school—
Mr Hanson: I have a point of order. The question directly quoted the parent saying, “How do you send them back if you know that they could get injured?” These are the
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