Page 512 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Opposition members interjecting—
MS BERRY: Madam Deputy Speaker, I listened to the opposition in silence. I expect that I would get the same as I deliver my speech to this motion.
I hope that, instead of coming in here with motions like this, the opposition would use the opportunity of their position to encourage and support our schools and be models for good behaviour. The government will be opposing this motion.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (4.26): This motion is not about people in suits in air-conditioned offices. It is not about public service speak. As much as the motion mentions data and the collection of it, at its core it is not about data. The motion is not about those of us who stand here in this Assembly and act like schoolchildren from time to time. As much as the minister would like to believe that it is about educational equity and inclusion, at its core that is not what it is about. It is not about curriculums; it is not about NAPLAN league tables; it is not about the Australian Education Union.
At its absolute core, this motion is about cold, hard fear. It is about the fear that has led one Tuggeranong boy to never use the toilet at his school for the fear that he will be severely assaulted if he does. He just hangs on. He does not go. It is about the fear that led one north-side child to put steak knives in their school bag to defend themselves if that was required. It is about the fear that crushes you when you are eight years old. It sits on top of your chest, squeezes the air out of your lungs, renders you speechless, and forces you to shut down and just point blank refuse to go to school. That is what the motion is about.
At such a pivotal time in the lives of so many young Canberrans, it can have, and is having, a profoundly negative effect on the development of too many of our children in so many key areas. I just do not believe that anyone should underplay this. We are not talking about a bit of push and shove; we are talking about traumatic events that have the potential to shape lives in the most negative way.
This year I have hosted a number of forums with parents of ACT students who are at their wits’ end. I have spoken to them in my office here; I have hosted round tables at my home. All they want is a guarantee on the safety of their children, and they cannot get it. They cannot get it.
I have spoken to a mother who, very reluctantly—Mr Wall referred to her—kept her child at home for a number of days because she did not know what else to do. I know that Mr Wall made mention of this earlier, but I have to repeat it. This mother said, “I had to choose between my son’s education and safety. I ultimately chose his safety.” When we had this conversation, I could see that it just tore her up inside. This was a last resort for her.
Whichever way you look at it, whichever way you look at it on this front, based on the information and the stories that have come to us, the directorate and the education minister are letting these children down and letting these parents down. There should be a reasonable expectation that your child will be safe at school. That expectation
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video