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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (5 September) . . Page.. 3129 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

That is something that at present the Government is looking at with the department to see whether we need to change legislation or what other steps we can take to ensure that schools do have more power to counter that very real problem. I was a bit concerned just to read at paragraph 3.22 that the committee, whilst appreciating the problem, believes that giving the schools or the principals the authority to order unwelcome visitors to leave the school or its environs is not the best way to go and that really it should be a matter dealt with by the police.

I was also concerned to read what was said on page 16 in relation to possession of dangerous implements at school. It was said that that, again, should simply be a matter for the police, even though the police felt that certain things should happen in the schools in terms of empowering principals, if need be, to search school bags. Those are problems which do crop up from time to time. The problem of visitors to schools is very real. Yesterday there was some brief discussion in relation to the problem of drugs at school. Obviously, it is a very serious problem when some of these visitors are there for that purpose. Quite clearly, the schools need adequate powers to negate those types of problems.

Turning now to the strategies that we do have in place, they are combined with the continued promotion of non-violent behaviours. The solution to this will not come overnight. It involves, I suppose, a good policy within the school in terms of addressing the situation, early intervention and a long - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 45 minutes after the commencement of Assembly business, the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 77.

Motion (by Mr Hird) agreed to:

That the time allotted to Assembly business be extended by 30 minutes.

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, there certainly are no quick fix solutions. It is an ongoing problem. As the committee realises, it is something more than just within the school community. It is a societal problem and needs addressing in a number of ways, and that is what the Government is doing.

As our response clearly demonstrates, Mr Speaker, the Government has initiated many strategies aimed at preventing violence, and it has many programs already in place which address disadvantage, which we do not for a moment deny is a very important concern. The report actually acknowledges those very important programs. For example, have a look at page 37, which deals with a number of important programs outside the school system which address this issue. Mr Speaker, we need to be discussing the issue of prevention of violence from the perspective of changing cultures and attitudes about violence - something that we are endeavouring to do within our school system.

The Government welcomes the committee's recognition that violence is a broader community issue and relates to a number of factors, including such things as early childhood experiences, cultural factors, schooling experiences, the influence of media and film, and alcohol or other substance abuse. None of these factors can be underestimated in any way, including the issues relating to domestic violence and child abuse.

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