Page 897 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2012

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MR DOSZPOT: It is a preamble to the question that I am asking.

MR SPEAKER: You cannot have a preamble on a supplementary, Mr Doszpot. Let us just cut straight to the question, thank you.

Mr Hargreaves: Another point of order, too, Mr Speaker: would you ask Mr Doszpot to table the paper he is reading from?

MR SPEAKER: Let us just have Mr Doszpot’s question, thank you.

MR DOSZPOT: Minister, the changes that were made to the act, which you keep referring to in your answer, from five to 15 days, which demonstrate the commitment of the government to—

MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, let us try to cut the preamble, please.

MR DOSZPOT: Okay. Minister, can you tell us who actually initiated the change, why did the change occur and who was consulted—parents, teachers or principals—to omit the words “weapons” and “safety of students or staff is at risk”, very significant changes from the 2007 to the 2010 policy?

DR BOURKE: I thank the member for his questions—a triple-header, I think, there. This is a detailed question which necessarily predates my election and predates my ministry. However, I will take it on notice and come back and let you know.

MR HANSON: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.

MR HANSON: Minister, how can we believe anything that you say about this matter when you have been vague, defensive and contradictory?

DR BOURKE: This is an outrageous suggestion. It is simply outrageous.

Members interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Order! Dr Bourke has the floor.

DR BOURKE: I completely refute what Mr Hanson has said. There is no basis or evidence for his statement. They merely illustrate the point that I made before about this confection of outrage.

Members interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Members, order! Enough!

DR BOURKE: This is what they are on about—fearmongering, scaremongering, putting down the best education system in the country.


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