Page 3160 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 20 August 2019
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MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Jones, straight to the point of order, please.
Mrs Jones: I am working on it, but I keep getting interrupted. The question was whether there was an agreed outcome between you, the Canberra Health Services and Canberra—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Jones, can you resume your seat. The minister took the question on notice and said that she would bring back more information.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, does the University of Canberra public hospital refer rehabilitation patients to Arthritis ACT for hydrotherapy after they are discharged from the hospital? If so, how many have been referred during 2018-19?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Dunne for the question and apologise for the mistaken identity earlier. I will take that question on notice.
Schools—Miles Franklin
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development. Minister, the government is proposing to erect a fence around Miles Franklin school. This will include fencing the adjoining south-west Evatt oval and limiting access to a shared path running along the eastern boundary of the oval. At a recent P&C meeting, officials from both the school and the directorate told the meeting that they would not be consulting with the local community. They said it was up to the school community to inform—not consult with—their neighbours. Minister, why are you expecting the school community to do your job for you?
MS BERRY: I thank Mrs Kikkert for the question. I can provide some information on fencing around schools. The decisions that are made about fencing around schools are made by the school community and the P&C. When the P&C at Miles Franklin said that they were considering putting a fence around their school and the adjoining oval, the process is that they have to—they must—show that they have support within the school community and with the broader community for the fence. That is the process so far. There has been no decision by the government, the Education Directorate or the school at this point in time to construct a fence—
Mrs Dunne: That is not what the P&C was told.
MS BERRY: It was the P&C’s decision to have this conversation. That is where it came from. The P&C first have to show that they have support for a fence around the school. That is the process that is in train right now. There is consultation occurring. That is the process for every school. Regardless of whether a fence is there or not, if there is a fence put around the school, it must comply with the government’s policies of being accessible to the broader community.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, why are you willing to deprive the local community of access to a public space without a proper and effective consultation process?
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