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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 4 Hansard (11 April) . . Page.. 1165 ..

Clean Up Australia advised that its total General Public and Products Liability cover was $10,000,000.

Following previous verbal advice from the ACT Government Solicitor's Office, and advice from the ACT Insurance Authority (ACTIA), the department took the view that the risks to students and the Territory's potential exposure to litigation were unnecessarily high and advised schools to not participate in litter collection activities associated with Friday Schools Clean Up Day.

(2) Advice was received from ACTIA on 6 February 2002.

(3) Yes, see attached advice.

(4) All principals of Government schools were advised of the department's position by way of Principals' Alert 11/02.

(5) Yes, see attached Principals Alert No 11/02.

(6) Schools are encouraged to participate in Clean Up Australia activities such as recycling programs; environmental awareness activities; poster and colouring competitions etc.

(7) Curriculum in ACT government schools is largely developed in schools. The ACT has guidelines for the development of curriculum in the form of ACT Curriculum Frameworks and Across Curriculum Perspectives documents.

These are complemented by the Curriculum Profiles which describe the progression of learning typically achieved by students in years K-10 in each of the learning areas.

The study of the environment is included in the learning areas of Studies of Society and the Environment (SOSE) and to a lesser extent in Science.

Discussions on maintaining a clean environment would also be carried out on a regular basis in classrooms and at school assemblies.

(8) The department is unable to answer this question.

(9) The department is unable to answer this question.

(10) Departmental policy and practice requires that school environments are areas which should be kept neat and tidy at all times. Schools have various strategies through which this may be achieved including preventative programs which discourage students from littering and raise awareness of environmental issues.

The collection of litter at schools by students is a management issue for schools but should be undertaken in line with risk management procedures. Individual schools need to weigh their duty of care responsibilities with other relevant issues such as the age and capabilities of students, supervision, safety precautions and known dangers in determining the appropriateness of litter collection in their school environment.

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