Page 847 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016
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(c) support teachers, students and parents to address bullying of all types to allow students to learn in a safe and inclusive environment.”.
Madam Speaker, to summarise, bullying is offensive in any form, in any environment—I thank you for pointing that out to our colleagues here in this chamber—and at any time. Let us all commit to doing everything we can to stamp it out: in our schools, in our society and, dare I say, in our chamber.
I commend this amendment to the Assembly.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, could you formally move the amendment, please?
MR DOSZPOT: I move the amendment circulated in my name.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Racing and Gaming and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (12.21): Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank Mr Hinder for bringing this important motion here today. I rise to support this motion and to support the work that is being done by the Safe Schools Coalition in schools across the territory and Australia as a whole. Providing a safe environment for the education of young people is paramount to the success of our education system. If a child goes to school, any fear, intimidation or bullying will impact in some way on their wellbeing, on their happiness and general wellbeing as well as their learning process.
The experience that many LGBTIQ people face during their years at school is not nice. It is not fun, it is not safe and it is not fair. The impact of these experiences at school can be lifelong and devastating. It is saddening when you hear stories of people who hid their identity, avoided entering a fulfilling and loving relationship or are still unable to build a loving romantic relationship due to the past experience of stigma at school, at home or in society in general. I cannot imagine having experienced such discrimination and stigma that it impedes your ability to have this sort of relationship successfully, as it is such a great relationship to experience.
Young LGBTI people deserve better. They should not have to face the situation which so many have faced before them. I think it is fantastic to know that there is a program like the Safe Schools Coalition which is being rolled out in schools around Australia. I am glad that this program is being dealt with and that things are beginning to improve for our LGBTIQ youth.
I am truly disheartened by the incapability of some in our community to feel compassion for these kids, people who would rather see these kids suffer, who make ridiculous assertions about the program and who say repugnant things about LGBTI people in our community. The sorts of homophobic statements which have been made during this national debate, and also during the current national debate about a marriage equality plebiscite in the past few months, have already seen a spike in calls to an organisation called Drummond Street Services which operates in Victoria.
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