Page 240 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2019
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Canberra High School last year. The shadow education minister has visited government schools as part of her portfolio responsibilities. Members of the government, typically ministers or members representing ministers, from time to time visit schools as a legitimate part of their responsibility for promoting government policy, programs or financial investment.
Outside of school hours ACT government schools often host community events where members of the Legislative Assembly are of course welcome. But during business hours or at school events government schools are focused on teaching, learning and related activities. In these circumstances I am responsible, and in these circumstances it is important that members respect the proper administration of government schools. The alternative to the protocol is that school principals, as public servants, find themselves in the awkward position of being asked to accommodate politicians according to their whim. The government will oppose Ms Lee’s motion and support the amendment I have moved.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.56): I move:
Omit all text after (1), substitute:
“notes that:
(a) school visits by MLAs serve a valuable purpose in increasing an MLA’s knowledge of the ACT school system and developing an appreciation of the talent and enthusiasm of students and teachers in ACT schools;
(b) government schools are staffed by public servants, who are part of an apolitical public service that assists the Executive and serves the community on behalf of the Executive; and
(c) the Minister for Education has approved business hours visits to government schools for members of all political parties;
(2) further notes that:
(a) the protocol for MLA/MP/Senator and other dignitary visits to Canberra public schools is available on the Education Directorate website; and
(b) the protocol does not apply to independent and Catholic schools who have their own processes for organising visits by interested parliamentarians; and
(3) calls on the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure to:
(a) examine whether the protocols in place around the permissions for MLAs to visit or attend school events constitute an impediment to the Members performing their function as MLAs and in complying with the Code of Conduct for all Members of the Legislative Assembly; and
(b) report back to the ACT Legislative Assembly on these protocols by the last sitting day in May 2019.”.
Members will see that my amendment has some text from both Ms Lee’s motion and some of Ms Berry’s points in her amendment. I think it reflects what I saw to be the key points of this motion.
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