Page 886 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2012
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That is because section 36 of the Education Act refers to the suspension, exclusion and transfer of students by the director-general. The act states that section 36 applies if a student attending a government school “threatens to be violent or is violent to another student attending the school, a member of the staff of the school or anyone else involved in the school’s operation”. The 2010 version of this policy does not use the word “weapons”, as it is worded to more closely reflect the requirements of section 36 of the act by not mentioning specific types of violence such as the use of weapons. The policy reiterates that no forms of violence or threats of violence are tolerated in our schools.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Doszpot.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members! I cannot hear Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, who was involved in the consultation over these changes that were made to the policy that deleted the word “weapons” and reference to punishment regarding use of weapons?
DR BOURKE: Whilst I need to take advice on who was involved in that particular consultation, I would like to draw the member’s attention to the Emergency response guide—ACT government, Education and Training.
Mr Doszpot: Is that policy? Is that education policy?
DR BOURKE: This one here, which mentions violence and weapons. This is in every school. It gives an indication; it is a guide for principals and teachers to use when dealing with emergency situations.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: One moment, Dr Bourke. Stop the clock, thank you. Members, Dr Bourke is giving a straight and informative answer here and I expect to be able to hear it. Dr Bourke, you have the floor.
DR BOURKE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. If the opposition members bothered to pay any attention within their briefings or show any interest in these matters, this would have been known to them. I table the following paper:
Emergency response guide—ACT Government— Education and Training.
Mr Smyth: Under standing order 213, would the minister also table the previous document that he was quoting from?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, I believe that you will need to move a motion to do that, unless Dr Bourke would like to volunteer it. We can do this informally or we can do it formally. The request is that you table the document, Dr Bourke, that you were quoting from previously.
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