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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (5 September) . . Page.. 3123 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Your response seemed to indicate that you thought broadbanding or untying of grants to a specific program actually meant a cut in funding to that program. I really cannot believe that that is what you thought. Maybe you could explain that last response now. It obviously would not have to be interpreted that way. It is very disturbing if that is the way you interpret it. I will conclude with that point, but I will be moving a motion on this issue.

MR SPEAKER: Members, Ms Tucker, I am advised, has effectively closed the debate on order of the day No. 1 by speaking at this point. However, I think we can overcome the problem, with the consent of the Assembly, if leave can be granted for any member to speak on this order of the day. Is leave granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

MR HIRD (11.12): As a member of the Social Policy Committee, Mr Speaker, I have read the Government's response very thoroughly and I believe the Government is on the right track in its response. The Minister, Mr Stefaniak, in presenting the Government's response to the committee's report, recognised the work that the committee had done and agreed with the majority of the recommendations. The Government is taking the issue of the prevention of violence in schools very seriously and is maintaining a very well considered approach to keeping the focus on preventing violence and violent behaviour. The Government is adamant in its agreement with the committee's recommendation that violence is a broader community issue. With this in mind, there is little point in throwing money at the problem in the hope that this, in itself, will eliminate it.

Violence in schools and in the wider community is related to a number of factors. These include early childhood experiences, cultural factors, schooling experiences, the influence of media and film, alcohol and other substance abuse. All these factors are relevant to any realistic attempt to ensure that our schools and our community are safer places. The Government is also in complete agreement with the committee on the breadth and the diversity of factors leading to violence in schools, and, indeed, in the wider community. We do not underestimate either the role of schools in preventing violence or the significance of the community's concern about this issue, but the schools cannot do it on their own.

The safe schools policy framework, I understand, will be published soon and is a welcome initiative which will provide clear support and direction from our Government to school boards, principals and staff as well as the students. The framework emphasises positive student management and minimises violence and all forms of harassment. Schools are safe places. In fact, the committee acknowledges very clearly that it does not believe that, in general, violence in our schools is out of control and that schools are not coping. For some students school is indeed safer than home. I would refer members to page 1 of our report. It is well recognised that schools are safe places, and the Government wants to keep them that way. There are a number of policies, strategies and programs in place to reduce violence in the schools and in the playgrounds.

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