Page 4264 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2019
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Greens once again placed loyalty to their parliamentary partner above the concerns of Canberra parents in supporting this move, in an extraordinarily disgusting abuse of the power they hold as the apparent crossbench.
Despite these limitations, the committee held its inquiry. It received 29 submissions, visited six ACT and three interstate schools and in September presented its report to the Assembly, with nine findings and 23 recommendations. Given that the report had been tabled, my motion calls on the government to also table the report from the advisory committee, which I know, from the minister’s communications to me, was received on 19 August, more than two months ago.
Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank the minister for giving me the courtesy of coming to my office and personally handing me not only a copy of the advisory committee report but also the government’s response to it, together with the government’s response to the Assembly committee’s report, which, I note, were all tabled earlier today. I thank the minister for her courtesy in doing that. My staff and I—and I am sure many parents—will read these three documents with great interest.
Given that the advisory committee’s report is some 94 pages long, it is clear that the experts took these issues seriously and gave the inquiry the respect it deserved. I take this opportunity to thank the members of the advisory committee for their time, expertise and hard work. It is, however, disappointing that it required a motion on the Assembly’s notice paper to make this happen.
I am sure that the issue of keeping our children safe at school is a priority for all of us. Given the way the minister came to see me today with these reports, I am hopeful that we can work more cooperatively in moving forward. We know that there are no simple solutions, but keeping the pathways of communication open between schools and parents, and between MLAs on both sides of the chamber, is important.
The minister also did me the courtesy of showing me the amendment to this motion that I understand she will be moving. I confirm that the Canberra Liberals will be supporting that amendment.
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) (5.19): I thank Ms Lee for bringing this motion to the Assembly today and for this important conversation. I can inform members that, leading into this sitting week, it was my intention to table the report of the school education advisory committee on safe and supportive schools, the ACT government response to this report, and the ACT government response to the report of the standing committee’s inquiry during tomorrow’s sitting. In an effort to make this a constructive debate—I understand that there may be more debate on this matter in the Assembly—as members know, these documents were tabled earlier today and, as Ms Lee said, I provided a copy to Ms Lee this morning.
Members may recall that earlier this year, in March, I established the school education advisory committee to provide expert independent advice on opportunities for strengthening safe and supportive school culture in every ACT government school.
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