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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (3 April) . . Page.. 1540 ..

upgrades to fire and emergency warning systems; the installation of a new kiln and other minor works.

It is anticipated that some work will be undertaken in the July school holidays and an amount of $500,000 is to be carried forward to 2003-04. Full expenditure of $2,500,000 is anticipated. Funding is to be approximately equally distributed between the schools.

Schools-liability for absent students

(Question No 615)

Mr Pratt asked the Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, upon notice, on 3 April 2003:

In relation to school liability for absent students:

(1) Has the Minister received advice as to whether a school is liable if a student is injured while not on school grounds, if so what is the substance of the advice;

(2) Has the Minister received advice as to whether a note from a student's parents frees the school of concerns about liability if a student is injured while not on school grounds during school hours, if so what is the substance of the advice;

(3) Do schools check with parents if notes are legitimate if there is any danger in the child leaving the school grounds ie: to attend a protest where the student could be injured;

(4) Can the Minister advise how many students have been absent from school this year to participate in anti-war protests and what percentage of these students had permission to leave school grounds.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to Mr Pratt's question is:

(1) No

(2) No

(3) Students are required to submit a note if they intend to leave the school grounds during school hours. If the school has any reason to believe the note may not be genuine, the parents are contacted to verify the authenticity of the note.

(4) School records indicate that 237 ACT government school students were absent from school to attend the war protest on 5 March 2003, and that 280 students were absent from school on 24 March to attend a second war protest.

The majority of students provided notes to schools giving them permission from their parents to leave the school grounds. 19% of the students who left school on 24

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