Page 350 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 1991
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It has not been suggested to me until now that there was any likelihood of any problem. I will have a look at that. If there is any likelihood of any problem, we will take what steps need to be taken to make sure that there is no such gap.
Macquarie Primary School - Sexual Assault
MR MOORE: My question is directed to the Minister for Education, Mr Humphries. Minister, I am sure you are aware - I hope you are aware - that a little girl from Macquarie Primary School was sexually assaulted recently. There have, in fact, been reports of two strangers in the vicinity of the school. The principal of that school was concerned enough to notify parents by letter of the dangers some few days before the assault. Minister, I have been approached by parents of students at the school who are concerned for those children whose classroom is - thanks to your arrangements - overcrowded, and because of overcrowding, resulting from the closure of Cook Primary School, is located some considerable distance from the body of the school and from the nearest toilets. Minister, those parents are worried for the welfare of their children. How do you feel about it? Are you prepared to give them any form of written assurances that their children will not be assaulted on their way to those toilets? What responsibility are you and your Government prepared to take for forcing the children into Macquarie Primary School before that school was ready, recognising, of course - I have been there to visit it - that the only reason the school is able to work is the dedication and professionalism of the staff, particularly the teachers? What responsibility are you prepared to take, Minister?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Moore, I believe that the first two sections of your question are out of order, but Mr Humphries may choose to comment on the last section.
MR HUMPHRIES: I take it that what you are ruling out of order is the questions about whether there was an assault or whether there - - -
MR SPEAKER: "What responsibility do you take?" and "Will you give a written guarantee to prevent it?". I do not believe that they are valid questions.
MR HUMPHRIES: I regret the fact that Mr Moore chooses to exploit situations like this in the way that his question obviously does. It will, unfortunately, not be the only occasion in the next few months where people will allege that particular tribulations that have occurred with respect to people or children involved with some school in the Territory are the direct result of something that the Government has done. That is an unfortunate consequence of any change. I have to reaffirm that the Government's intention is to strengthen and reinforce the effectiveness
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