Page 590 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 2019
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bridge over Sullivans Creek and better parking access to the Goorooyarroo nature park. I am looking forward to delivering better roads to the residents of Gungahlin and the ACT.
Schools—violence
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, yesterday in this chamber when I outlined some of the stories of violence in schools you said that it was the first you had heard of those stories of violence and fear. Why did it take my comments to draw your attention to stories which had either been mentioned in the Canberra Times or about which the parents had written directly to your office?
MS BERRY: The stories I was referring to that I heard referred to yesterday I had not heard before in my office. Some of those stories I had not. The ones in the paper had been referred to my office; I was aware of those. But there were a couple of references yesterday, and visitors here yesterday, about which I had not heard before.
MR PARTON: Minister, are your staff or staff within the directorate hiding these stories from you?
MS BERRY: Maybe Mr Parton is trying to be a little bit too tricky here. Specifically with regard to those stories that were referred to yesterday, those people have not been in touch with my office. So I had not heard from those individuals. That was what I was referring to yesterday. I have since, as Mr Parton is aware, spoken to a number of those families that were here yesterday. I have now heard their stories and I am working with them and the directorate and the schools to make sure that they are being supported and that their issues are addressed.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what are you doing to ensure that you are properly briefed in future about the violence in ACT government schools?
MS BERRY: I am briefed properly by the education directorate but I have sought for further—
Mrs Dunne: It does not seem to be sticking, then.
MS BERRY: You asked the question, Mrs Dunne; I am trying to answer it for you. I have asked the directorate to pay further careful attention to ensuring that I am briefed more regularly and in more detail. When my office is contacted by individuals, I respond to those individuals.
Schools—violence
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, in answer to a number of questions in the Assembly last week about incidents at Theodore Primary School, you said you had received daily briefings from the Education Directorate and that you would continue to be personally involved in how that school recovers. Some parents that opposition MLAs have met with who
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