Page 923 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
heard. So they asked me whether there was any way that they could have their voices heard in this chamber. They specifically asked me whether it would be possible to write a letter that could be read out in the chamber. I said, “Yes, sure, I can do that in the debate on the petition.” So I am going to read it unedited. It says:
To the Speaker of the Assembly, the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and members of the Assembly,
We write this to you as citizens, residents of the ACT, and most of all as parents, parents who want to ensure the safety of not only our children but all children in the ACT education system, as well as those working within the Education System.
The petition requesting an independent inquiry into violence in ACT schools and the handling of these incidents is just that. It is not now, nor has it ever been a “witch hunt” or an exercise in “demonising” particular people or schools. We have never requested that the independent inquiry single out a particular person or school rather investigate violence in all schools and the handling of this by the Directorate.
While our main focus is those incidents of violence against children we also recognise and are equally saddened and upset regarding the incidents perpetrated against teachers and principals. This said, all incidents of violence within the Education System must be reviewed.
Due to our experiences with the handling of incidents of violence perpetrated against our children at school by the Education Directorate we believe, as do many others, that an independent review is the best way forward. This gives all relevant stakeholders the chance to input and be heard and work TOGETHER to help recognise the issues and rectify any issues that may arise. In this way, people are heard, included and validated and it makes the process INCLUSIVE for all.
The letter closes by saying:
We implore you to consider voting outside of party lines and with your conscience on this issue primarily regarding the safety of children which is, as has been stated in the Assembly by both parties, an important issue.
It is signed by Emma Warwick, Leanne Manunui, Tamika Pakis and Karen Saleta. I applaud those parents who put the petition together. Thanks to Emma and Leanne for joining us in the gallery today. I know that during this public discussion there have been suggestions that what is going on is Liberal scaremongering. This is not Liberal scaremongering.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (10.19): Thank you, Ms Lee, for bringing the petition to the Assembly today. The government will formally respond to the petition in due course. But I want to take the opportunity today to reassure all the parents who
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video