Page 149 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
touch with the Education Directorate, with the director-general, and get assurances from them that schools are applying policies and procedures as appropriate and, if they are not, by ensuring that they have support so that they can do that.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, what are the consequences for an education minister who continuously fails to address the problem of violence in our schools?
MS BERRY: I do not agree with the premise of that question; that is completely untrue. Members will know how closely I have been working with the Australian Education Union and the school communities to ensure that our schools are free from violence. It is a complex issue when you are dealing with human services and people at the front line. It is a difficult and challenging issue to resolve. But, as I have said, the ACT is leading the country in this journey. We have provided the information to other states and territories who are interested in making sure their schools are free from violence as well.
It is wrong to suggest that I am not taking action. I am the only minister in this country who took action. I am the only minister in this country that actually worked very closely with and listened to the teachers in our schools about what was happening. I took action almost immediately after I was appointed as minister to make sure that our schools were free from violence for teachers. I have been working very closely with those professionals to assure myself that they have the supports they need to provide our children with the best possible education in a safe and positive environment.
MS LEE: Minister, why is it that, if you are the only minister in this country who has taken action on violence in schools, we have seen repeated reports of violence in ACT schools since the beginning of your term as education minister?
MS BERRY: That is true. When you bring attention to an issue, you ask that people report and you say to them, “You are not going to be blamed or judged. Your professional judgement will not be called into question if you ask for help.” I have been out there saying, “If you are being injured at work then you need to tell us so that we can properly support you.” I expect that that number will continue to rise as we work through the procedures and the plans to support teachers appropriately in their schools.
Mental health—cannabis
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and minister for road safety. Minister, I refer to a question time brief prepared by the department of health which states that the risks of high or long-term cannabis use include addiction, altered brain development, symptoms of chronic bronchitis and increased risk of chronic psychosis diseases including schizophrenia. Minister, what research has the ACT government done into the impact of the legalisation of cannabis on the demand for mental health services in the ACT?
MR RATTENBURY: This is obviously a matter that is being considered by the government at the moment. Generally, the government is considering issues of drug
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video