Page 898 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2012
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Mr Seselja: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, the question was specific. It was: how can we believe anything you say about this matter when you have been vague, defensive and contradictory? He is not addressing the question and, if he is not going to address the question, he should sit down.
MR SPEAKER: Given the nature of the question, it is very hard to take the point of order, Mr Seselja. There is no point of order. Dr Bourke, do you wish to add anything further?
DR BOURKE: I think I have said enough, Mr Speaker.
Schools—weapons
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the minister for education. Minister, in an interview on WIN Television on 6 March, you said, “The ACT schools policy on weapons says we do not tolerate weapons.” Exactly which policy document were you referring to when you used these words?
DR BOURKE: I thank the member for her question. Yes. We do not tolerate weapons in schools. That is our policy. It is quite clearly against ACT law. It is against ACT law, which applies in ACT schools. I would have thought that the shadow attorney-general would have been familiar with ACT law and its application to the ACT education system.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary.
MRS DUNNE: I will ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker, although the minister could not answer the first question about which policy document he was referring to.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: For the benefit of the Assembly, can you table the policy document on which the statement you gave on WIN television was based?
DR BOURKE: The policy is a document which specifically talks about suspensions, exclusions and transfers. It does not mention weapons, for reasons that I have previously described. However, it is our policy to not tolerate weapons in schools.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, why is there no reference to weapons and illicit drugs in the 2010 policy? It was there in 2007. We have asked you umpteen ways and you have answered absolutely zip about what we are asking. Why is there no reference to weapons?
DR BOURKE: I thank the member for his question. I have gone into quite a bit of detail as to why the policy change occurred in 2010. I have explained it twice, both to
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