Page 607 - Week 02 - Thursday, 16 February 2017

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of withdrawal spaces, seclusion and physical restraint. These guidelines stipulate that withdrawal spaces should not be locked and students must not be prevented from leaving. Minister, are you aware of any ACT schools that are not adhering to these guidelines for any reason?

MS BERRY: No, I am not aware of any schools.

MR WALL: Minister, are some students at a Canberra primary school segregated from other students in a gated outside enclosure and forced to wear clothing that clearly identifies and highlights them as being different from other students?

MS BERRY: Can I suggest that if Mr Wall is aware of any schools where this might be occurring, that he get in touch with my office and then I can investigate.

Mrs Jones: What’s the answer to the question?

MS BERRY: This is the first time that I have heard of that situation, if there is a situation like that occurring.

MRS KIKKERT: Minister, how do you avoid students being stigmatised when they are separated and possibly forced to wear clothing that deliberately identifies them as being different?

MS BERRY: I invite members, if they are aware of a situation where this is occurring, to please get in touch with my office so that I can investigate it.

Sport—government initiatives

MS CODY: Can the Minister for Sport and Recreation update the Assembly on key projects in the Sport and Recreation portfolio, particularly the delivery of the government’s election commitments?

MS BERRY: I thank Ms Cody for that question. The government’s sport and recreation investments, particularly in local infrastructure, are a foundation for our wok in support of active living, and I have been pleased to pick up where we left off in this portfolio. On our election commitments, funding has been made available for the government’s commitment of $75,000 towards consultation around a new ice sports facility. Preliminary meetings have been held and I look forward to seeing the project move ahead in coming months.

The government has also begun to roll out our ambitious program of activities to grow the profile, participation and equity of women’s and girls’ sport. I want to say how good it is to see the number of local sporting bodies also wanting to take a leadership role in this work.

Key capital works are also continuing to build and enhance our sporting asset base. They currently include the development of the Melrose synthetic football pitch, the redevelopment of the Phillip Oval and the further upgrade of the Narrabundah Ballpark.


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