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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (4 November) . . Page.. 3531 ..

Ms McRae: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I think he ought to clarify that. You might be misleading there, Mr Stefaniak.

MR STEFANIAK: I do not necessarily think you will find that, Ms McRae. Perhaps we should look at that. I certainly recall trying to visit a couple of schools during the Second Assembly and basically being told that I had to go through the proper channels before I could.

Ms McRae: I think you should clarify that; you be careful.

MR STEFANIAK: At one school I went to, that certainly occurred not too long before the last election.

Mr Berry: I offered you my personal staff all the time.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Stefaniak has the floor.

MR STEFANIAK: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Ms McRae, I think you will find that what has been put in place, from my understanding, is simply what has been normal courtesy and has been in place for some time. I understand also that there is absolutely no problem when people just follow that really basic procedure for politicians to visit schools. No doubt, you have done so on a number of occasions. I know a number of other members of your party have, including Federal politicians. I can certainly recall a number of instances in recent times when Senator Lundy has visited schools on a fairly regular basis. But from my understanding, Ms McRae, the procedure that is being followed is simply one that has been there for some time and is, as much as anything else, a matter of courtesy and protection to the school itself.

MS McRAE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Minister, what sanctions are going to be applied should any politician slip through the net?

MR STEFANIAK: Schools are meant to be non-political organisations, Ms McRae, and I think it is important that a certain procedure is followed. For example, should even I visit a school it is normal that the school is told. I think there is just some common courtesy in relation to all of this, Ms McRae. I am aware of a couple of occasions when people have, in fact, visited schools without going through relevant procedures. There have been no sanctions in relation to that, but I am certainly happy to point out that there are procedures in place. I would be interested if you could show me that it was different when you were in government. As far as I am aware, the procedures are just normal procedures which have been followed in the course of this Assembly. If you have something different to that, Ms McRae, please let me know. Certainly, I would also say to you that, if there is something different, practise what you preach when you are next in government.

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