Page 874 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016
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Bullying isn’t something confined to homosexuals yet you are encouraging a program that actually bullies heterosexual children into submission for the gay agenda.
That is appalling. How can anyone who is supposed to represent their community say that to the community he is supposed to be representing? He also went on to say:
Of course, like any other Australian, homosexual activists are free to pursue their cause among the adult community in whatever manner they like, within the bounds of the law. But they should have the decency to leave our children and our education system out of it.
I would say to Senator Bernardi that he should have the decency to stay out of it and to allow our children, our young people, our educators and those in the community that think this is the right and proper thing to do to get about their business and to support all in our community. How is it common sense to be so naive and out of touch as Senator Bernardi is to believe that teaching intolerance is the way for a modern community?
When it comes to student safety, particularly the safety of our students who are from the LGBTI community, common sense is about supporting a safe schools coalition. Common sense is where everybody is having a stake in making sure the programs do what they are meant to do and embrace all in our community to give them a safe space, a valued space and a respected space.
It is well known that during their school years people form a great deal of their understanding and beliefs about encouraging acceptance and encouraging respect. The Safe Schools Coalition program is about that. It is immensely disappointing to hear the commentary from some in this debate. Stereotypes are detrimental for everybody, but they can particularly affect the LGBTI community. If we foster inclusivity at a school level, we will develop people that move into life not being polarised by gender and sexuality.
As the Chief Minister has been very clear about, the ACT government proudly supports the work of the Safe Schools Coalition and is committed to providing a positive and engaging environment where young children feel connected, respected and are able to be engaged in education. Student wellbeing impacts on student learning, and that is a fundamental that I would have thought all in this place understood.
Involvement of the whole school community—parents, students and other organisations—is absolutely critical. I have a number of negative quotes, but I think we have heard them. However, Senator Bernardi seems to be at the top of the pack for this one. He said the program is used to:
…indoctrinate children into a Marxism agenda of cultural relativism …They’re intimidating children, they’re bullying children and they’re indoctrinating children …
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