Page 1701 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 15 May 2019
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MS FITZHARRIS: I think I understand what Miss C Burch is trying to say but I note that—and this is where I have significant concern with some of the Canberra Liberals’ positions on this—the implication that children walking to school without supervision is unsafe is patently wrong. I am sure that many of us walked to school and many of our children walk to school. It is simply not true to state that it is unsafe for children to walk to school unsupervised. It is simply not true.
I am happy to have a public debate and be questioned on these matters but the dog whistling that is implicit in the consistent approach from the Canberra Liberals does not help anyone. It is not unsafe for children to walk to school unsupervised. Children across this city do it every day. Children who live around the corner from their existing school walk to school every day safely in the safest city in the safest country in the world.
Mrs Jones: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, on relevance, the question asked what she would say to those who have relied on a dedicated school bus service. We have not had any information about that question.
MADAM SPEAKER: The question was also linked to their having to walk to school.
Mrs Jones: There has not been an answer to the question. There should be direct relevance. That is the point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
MS FITZHARRIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will say—and I understand that there are members of the community in the chamber today, including representatives of parent bodies—that we will continue to work closely and provide alternatives, of which there are many for many families and many schools right across our community.
MR PARTON: Minister, how do you justify forcing hundreds of primary school aged children to walk long distances unsupervised—we are talking about primary school aged children—when most Australian jurisdictions, including Queensland and South Australia, expressly classify that as both unsafe and unlawful and, indeed, Queensland, New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian police advise against it for under-12s?
MS FITZHARRIS: I refer Mr Parton to my previous answer.
Federal election—impact
MS CHEYNE: My question is to the Chief Minister: how is the ACT government preparing for the differing impacts for the Canberra region between the major parties’ election commitments?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Cheyne for the question. Certainly this Saturday will be a defining moment not just for the Australian nation but for our city. There is a very
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