Page 4282 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 22 September 2010

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convenor of the Greens the very strong words of caution from a contributor to the Canberra Times—so this is not from us, but from the community. You were saying that you feel the community needs to be represented. Well, this is the community talking to you. The letter in the Canberra Times I am referring to was published on 15 September 2010 on page 18 and is from Jo Larkin:

Dr Helen Watchirs, whether Human Rights Commissioner or Children and Young People Commissioner, should be well aware of just how misleading her letter will be.

If we take the commissioner’s argument to the extreme, then operators in bottle shops would be violating the rights of a 15 year old should they be refused service.

If she has truly taken the role of Children and Young People Commissioner from Alasdair Roy, then we find ourselves in a very sad situation when she places the laws regarding children in education so low on her list of priorities.

I say the same to the minister and to the convenor of the Greens: it is a shame that you place laws regarding children in education so low on your list of priorities.

I thank the members of this Assembly for the debate that our motion on truancy in ACT schools has generated. I have to say that I am very disappointed in the lack of courage of the minister for education, Mr Barr, and, in this instance, his reluctance to show tangible support for one of his principals who, in contrast to Mr Barr, has been very courageous in his stance to protect the students entrusted to his care.

Ms Hunter: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, Mr Doszpot said that he was standing to speak to my amendment, and he has not addressed my amendment at all. My understanding is that if he is speaking to an amendment he should at least refer to it in his speech.

MR SPEAKER: I think there was some confusion. I get the impression from the content of your speech, Mr Doszpot, that you are actually closing the debate.

MR DOSZPOT: I am happy to close the debate if that is what Ms Hunter wants—

Ms Hunter: You actually stood to talk to the amendment.

MR DOSZPOT: I am also speaking against her amendment—

Ms Hunter: No, a point of order—

MR DOSZPOT: I thought I made it pretty clear from the outset—

MR SPEAKER: Let us not debate the content; I am just trying to sort the process here.

MR DOSZPOT: Okay, sure.

MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, did you have a further point?


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