Page 1185 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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I give this commitment to the Assembly: the government takes this matter very seriously; principals have been made aware of their obligations, and we are engaging with key stakeholders in some further discussions about how we can adapt whole-of-government—whole-of-education-department—responses to ensure that, through individual schools, the practices and guidelines we have in place within the education department are being followed.
I am pleased to advise the Assembly that principals are 100 per cent on board with this. A very clear set of protocols is in place. As Mr Stefaniak has quoted from the policy, that is correct: those instances should be reported to the police. There have recently been a couple of examples of people coming on to school grounds to seek revenge for various neighbourhood disputes or other things unrelated to the school. The school’s response has been appropriate and has been supported by the parents of the victims in these instances.
It is important that these processes are clear, and that they are made clear to school communities and to school boards. That has occurred. We continue to consult with stakeholders. I met with the parents and citizens council on this issue only the week before last. We continue to engage with the stakeholders to ensure that our responses are appropriate; that where matters are serious, they are reported to the police. It is unacceptable—I repeat: it is unacceptable—that these sorts of incidents are occurring. The ones on the front page of the paper have been assaults, not bullying, and they are being handled by the police appropriately.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Stefaniak?
MR STEFANIAK: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, is it the case that some schools do not report the incident to the police and that some school authorities have actually discouraged parents from reporting to the police? You mentioned the protocols. Will you table those protocols by close of business today?
MR BARR: I would be concerned if any schools are not abiding by the protocols that the education department has put in place.
Mr Pratt: Do you know of any?
MR BARR: I am not aware of any. No instances have been brought to my attention whereby there has been a flagrant breach of any of the protocols that are in place. I am happy to have those protocols tabled in the Assembly. There is no issue there at all; they are publicly available documents. The Leader of the Opposition has quoted from them. There is no issue at all there.
I am concerned to see that we work together—that we are able to engage the resources across the ACT government, that we are able to work cooperatively with police when a critical incident occurs, that those people who are perpetrating what are serious assaults are brought to justice and that this matter is taken seriously. I take it very seriously. It should not be used as an opportunity to denigrate the public school system in the ACT. It should not be taken as some sort of—
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