Page 241 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2019
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It is quite clear that our schools and, for that matter, a range of other facilities cannot be a free-for-all; people cannot just turn up whenever they wish. I do not think that is what is being discussed today, but there clearly need to be protocols. It is right that there is an approval system and the like, and I do not have a sense that anybody disagrees with that.
I note that in Ms Lee’s original motion there was reference to independent and Catholic schools. I imagine they probably have protocols in place as well. I suspect they might differ a bit because, by their nature, they are independent schools. But each of these places, for obvious reasons of safety—knowing where people are and having vulnerable people in schools, as young students can be—needs to have a system.
I noted Ms Berry’s email earlier this week after the original motion came out. Ms Lee noted there is no current written publicly available policy. I understand that there is. I have read it this week. It seems reasonably straightforward, but that is not to prejudge the inquiry that is going to take place. We will support a referral to the admin and procedure committee.
This is not a controversial thing; this is an opportunity for members to express concerns, if there are any, and for a group represented by all parties to look at this and work through any glitches that might be in the system. My amendment supports the referral to the admin and procedure committee. The committee can hear from MLAs who might be concerned about the current protocol.
Ms Berry is right that there is a time and a place for visits as well. If there is an incident going on at a school it is probably not the best moment to invite people for a visit, but that does not mean that two weeks later there might not be an opportunity for someone to have a chat to the principal and have a conversation about what happened and their take on it.
It is right that members of the Assembly should be able to go, but I do not think members should be going there all the time. As with my portfolios covering the jail and mental health units, members are free to visit those places but they need to be cognisant of the various privacy, security and like issues that float around them. I commend my amendment to the Assembly.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Fuel Pricing—Select Committee
Membership
MADAM SPEAKER: I have been notified in writing of the membership of the select committee. For the information of members, the membership is Ms Cheyne, Mr Parton and Mr Wall.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (11.59): I move:
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