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MR SPEAKER: The entire implication.

MR OSBORNE: I withdraw.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

MR OSBORNE: Minister, the school has also introduced the buddy system for playground areas. This program is obviously working, as the incidence of bullying in the school has been greatly reduced. My question, Minister, is: Are the Richardson Primary School programs for dealing with the incidence of school bullying a model which you and your department are or will be encouraging other primary schools in Canberra to introduce?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank Mr Osborne for the question. It is a very good one. It is not a dorothy dixer. I do not even have it in here. Congratulations to the Richardson Primary School on their excellent efforts. I note that my colleague the Chief Minister went there about 10 days ago and presented a cheque for $5,000, which was an award for their excellent system. Their buddy system, which has been so effective in reducing school bullying, is indeed a model that all schools can, and I will make sure do, look at. The Government is working very closely with schools and the community to maintain and promote a safe environment in which effective learning and teaching can take place. Strategies such as that will be very important in reviewing behaviour and various strategies that have been used in the past and adopting sensible initiatives to eliminate the violence and bullying that occurs within our schools.

I reiterate my congratulations to the Richardson Primary School on its excellent effort. It certainly is a model. The Government is putting a lot of effort into enhancing the work which was started by Mr Wood when he was Minister. He established a committee which I have continued to a certain extent but which I have also put different people on to further improve responses to problems of bullying in schools. I certainly give credit to Mr Wood for starting that initiative at Richardson last year. We will seek to improve the situation. Efforts such as those at Richardson bear testimony to what can be done.

Mrs Carnell: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

MR SPEAKER: I would like to make three points. The first is in relation to Mr Osborne and his knee. If you wish to speak at all during the afternoon, Mr Osborne, just raise your hand and I will be able to recognise you. The second point relates to the matters raised by Mr Berry. I would refer him to standing order 113A, which appears under the heading “Questions without notice - number of questions” and which reads:

Questions without notice shall not be concluded until all non-Executive Members rising have asked at least one question.

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