Page 4744 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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MS BERRY: I have received some feedback from some individuals about the chaplaincy program, but I have received even more feedback about making sure that our public schools remain secular and that they employ social and welfare workers in our schools to support our students appropriately. Also, of course, there has been very positive support for the increase in the number of psychologists that the ACT government committed to providing; those additional five to meet the target of 20 that were promised during the election will be delivered from the start of next year.
Mr Coe: Point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe.
Mr Coe: On relevance, the question was specifically about what benefits she has heard about the chaplaincy program. She said that she has received some feedback, but she has not actually addressed what benefits she has heard about.
MADAM SPEAKER: I believe she was talking about the programs and the feedback she has received, so there is no point of order.
MR COE: Minister, how many people have contacted the ACT government and ministers expressing their concern about your ban on school chaplains, and what have you heard about the benefits of the chaplaincy program?
MS BERRY: I do not have an actual number on correspondence that the government has received regarding the chaplaincy program. I understand that the benefits that people are referring to are the benefits of social and welfare supports to our students and young people; and that social and welfare support can be provided in a secular way in our ACT public schools, as is required under the Education Act.
MR WALL: Minister, will you give an assurance today that there will not be a ban on the Christian education in schools program, also provided as an opt-in program at no cost to schools or the territory government?
MS BERRY: The ACT Education Act provides the opportunity for families to ask for religious education, not necessarily defined as just Christian, but as religious education; so any number of faiths can be provided in our schools. Families can opt into those programs should a family request that it occur.
Bushfires—preparedness
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and relates to Canberra’s bushfire preparedness in the face of climate change. The unprecedented fires in New South Wales and Queensland have burnt out world heritage listed rain forests that had probably never been burnt before. Are these extreme and worsening fire events leading to the government re-examining which areas of the ACT, in particular the urban areas, are at fire risk?
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