Page 4327 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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Detail stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (12.19): I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 4394].
The amendment states that if a student is suspended for 20 consecutive school days the student must attend not less than three counselling sessions, and there are a number of other amendments that are included in the attachment list provided.
Mr Barr referred to a particular song, Stealers Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle With You, and I cannot help but think that there is a more appropriate song that is more the Barr way of doing things, and that is My Way—my way or the highway. This seems to be the methodology, Mr Barr, albeit that you have actually provided the start of something that is very worthwhile.
We all agree, and that is where you seem to be stuck in the middle—the fact that you have come up with a good idea about increasing the days for the suspensions that currently the principals can impose. We have an opportunity to increase that, and it seems that you do agree that the principals need more autonomy. It is just how much more autonomy that seems to be the problem that you are stuck with. The point is that every other jurisdiction around the country—every other jurisdiction—carries the same terminology that we are talking about.
In fact, we go a little bit further in saying that not only is it the suspension period that should be in question but also we should address some of the things that we need to do to bring those students who are suspended back into the education forum, into the right levels of interaction with students.
The Education Amendment Bill, tabled by the minister as I said before, is simply a token attempt and it falls far short of addressing the real problem with antisocial behaviour. We are getting close, and we are addressing some of the issues that we need to address.
As for the Greens, on the other hand, I must say that I am somewhat disappointed because I have a very high regard for Ms Hunter’s analysis of a lot of the problems and a lot of the issues that we have normally discussed. We were going to get together last Friday but I was there ready to talk to you, Ms Hunter, and you never showed up for the appointment that we were supposed to have. So, yes, I understand that we have not talked about the issues at length, but I would like to lay that at your door. I was available for discussions with you last week; you never showed. The other disappointing part about the Greens—
Mr Barr: I think you just have to accept there is a little bit of an ideological difference Steve, you know. You have got a red neck, I think.
MR DOSZPOT: It is a funding issue, I would say, more than anything else. But what I am finding quite intriguing in this whole debate to date is that we are all saying the
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