Page 741 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 5 April 2022

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Opposition members interjecting—

MS BERRY: There are two challenges within that school. One is shortages as a result of COVID; and there was an incident that occurred in the previous week. Those are the reasons, and those are the reasons that were provided to parents in the school communities, that there were teacher shortages—

Mr Hanson interjecting

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, enough!

Mr Gentleman: Madam Speaker, the opposition continues—

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes. Enough, members. You are about to be warned.

MS BERRY: For members’ awareness, parents were told on the day of the incident that the incident had occurred. So there is nothing to hide here. The WorkSafe order relates specifically to the safety of schoolteachers and staff. All of the necessary actions are being followed, in complying with the WorkSafe notice. The Education Directorate will continue to work with WorkSafe and all of the stakeholders within that school to comply with the recommendations in that notice.

Education Directorate—Campbell Primary School procurement

MS CASTLEY: My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. Minister, your directorate refused a freedom of information request to release documents regarding the Campbell Primary School procurement. Later the Ombudsman overturned that decision. Was your directorate aware of the probity issues with this procurement when it refused to release the documents?

MS BERRY: It was a decision that was made by the Ombudsman, as the member has suggested.

Ms Lee: A point of order, Madam Speaker.

MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Lee.

Ms Lee: Perhaps the minister did not understand the question properly. The directorate refused the freedom of information request to release the documents. That decision was overturned by the Ombudsman. I ask that the minister be directed to the question.

MADAM SPEAKER: Minister, to the question.

MS BERRY: There were matters of commercial-in-confidence—that is why in the first instance—and then the matter went to the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman overturned that. And that is what they are there for.


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