Page 285 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2019
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It is surely more than a mere coincidence, then, that on Monday afternoon, just a short time after this motion was discussed at the admin and procedure committee, an email came around from Minister Berry reminding us all that we must not trespass on school grounds. Apparently one of the first tasks that the minister did when taking up the portfolio, along with sorting out school violence, safe places, overcrowding, any other issues that we have subsequently brought to the attention of the Assembly, was to ask her directorate to refresh the existing protocol for public school visits. And apparently the protocol is publicly available. It is not so publicly available, however, that all schools are aware of it. And the Speaker was also apparently unfamiliar with it.
The minister’s email is in part superfluous and in other parts patronising in the extreme. It assumes that schools and school leaders do not know how to manage visitors or that visitors and MLAs do not understand that a school is managing circumstances which may make a visit inappropriate. She goes on to say that she has agreed, at points in time, for MLAs of all parties to participate in additional activities in government schools. How very generous!
I note the email concludes with a comment that the minister is happy to discuss this further during this debate but, as we have just seen, her contributions to this debate have been defensive, full of personal attacks and ridiculous fantasies which show a complete lack of respect to our school leaders and all MLAs in this chamber including the Speaker.
I brought on this matter for discussion because I think it is important that school communities have access to all the elected MLAs in this chamber and not just those that the minister or her office deem to be suitable. It is equally important that MLAs have some access to government schools. I know how valuable my visits have been. And in case she still does not get it, I will repeat: I am not in any way advocating, lobbying for or asking for a free-for-all where MLAs can pop into government schools whenever they please. But just as Minister Berry goes to great pains to say she apparently has faith in the teaching staff and school leaders, she should also extend that faith to managing a simple visit from an MLA.
I brought this motion to the Assembly for discussion because I would not want to see further embarrassment to MLAs in this place or difficulties and confusion for schools who have invited MLAs in good faith to attend an award ceremony or any other event, only to be put in this awkward position to either admit they were not aware of the protocols or—and I note she has denied this but it has been reported—of having to uninvite an MLA.
I cannot begin to understand what the minister is so terrified about in not allowing MLAs to accept invitations to schools that schools have clearly thought about before they extended them. Is she terrified that schools might actually appreciate the interest, understanding and acknowledgement shown by MLAs?
I welcome the amendment by Mr Rattenbury. The Canberra Liberals will be supporting it.
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