Page 995 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 May 2020
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The transport minister is listening to the health advice, but the education minister was not.
The Canberra Liberals support our teachers. We recognise the very important role that they play. That is why we want kids to be back in the classroom: because we value them so much. Online learning is not as good as having a dedicated teacher delivering tailored strategies for children in a classroom. That is the optimal model of education and that is something that we should be striving for. That is why we are disappointed that so many kids are not receiving the benefit that our wonderful, dedicated Canberra teachers provide in classrooms.
I believe there are some things that can be reasonably done to manage the risk of COVID-19 in schools. The government should not be surprised that we are in this situation. The government were very quick to turn schools off but they seem very reluctant to turn them on. There was confusion at the beginning, there was confusion in the middle and there is still confusion about what this really means.
Do we really think that kids in years 5, 6, 8 and 9 should have to wait three more weeks before they can have normal classroom teaching? I just do not think it is fair to those kids or to their families that they still have weeks to wait before they get the education they need. The ACT Human Rights Act says that kids are entitled to an education. Unfortunately, I just do not think an online education is anywhere near as good as face-to-face classroom teaching. That is the power and the benefit of our wonderful teachers. That is why we want kids in the classrooms with those teachers.
I very much commend Ms Lee for her consistent advocacy, her consultation and her communication. This is not about politics. It is about advocating for Canberra’s families. It is about advocating for the best interests of Canberra’s children. We will continue to do everything we can to make sure that every child in Canberra gets the education that they deserve.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (3.32): I thank Ms Lee for bringing forward the motion. It is important to have these discussions. I thank those who have spoken and indicate, obviously, the government’s support for the amendment that the Deputy Chief Minister has moved.
This pandemic has forced all governments in Australia and, indeed, around the world to take immediate and drastic actions to protect our citizens against a deadly virus—a virus that we still do not know enough about and a virus that will be with us for months and years to come. There is no vaccine and there has been not much effective treatment possible around the world, particularly in extreme cases and particularly for those most vulnerable.
The contrast in the approach here in Australia to that elsewhere in the world and the effectiveness of the approach here in Australia, in contrast to the rest of the world, has been very clear. We have achieved this through a clear, concise governance framework; important coordination and collaboration between the states and
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