Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for EDUCATION, Ms PALMER
Minister, during the school holidays we saw the very unfortunate insertion of the Premier into school operations and decision-making at Trevallyn Primary School. The politicisation of a joyous end-of-year celebration, which had been thoughtfully consulted and crafted by the school community and leadership, was extraordinary. While embracing other Christmas activities for this occasion, the school was creating an inclusive end-of-year event for all students and the school community to enjoy.
Minister, I understand the Premier acted against advice from your departmental secretary and he chose, despite being advised not to, to deliberately misrepresent the school as being anti-Christmas, which resulted in a significant and distressing public backlash aimed at the school community. Minister, have you seen that advice from your departmental secretary on this matter? Have you spoken to the Premier about his extraordinary and needless insertion into the school community’s affairs at Trevallyn? Will you outline the advice from your departmental secretary and table the letter?
ANSWER
Thank you very much, Mr President. I’ll just seek some advice. I thank the member for the question. I’m going to choose not to name the school in my response. I feel that particular school has had enough unwarranted attention through recent media coverage. Unfair and unkind comments have certainly been levelled –
Ms O’CONNOR – Where did that start?
Ms PALMER – But it certainly is a school that holds a very special place in my heart. It is my former primary school. I certainly look forward to sharing in the end of year festivities as a local member, and as a former student. It is a great school, it has amazing teachers and students, and many of the staff I know very well. I have been in direct contact with the leadership at the school through this very difficult time, offering my support.
As Education minister, the safety and wellbeing of staff and students is my highest priority, and through my department I have ensured that the appropriate support is in place for the school community as needed. I do want to take this opportunity to thank my department for the exceptional way that they have supported this school and this community through this time. Every school should be a safe, inclusive and supportive place. I’ve certainly seen some of the comments online directed to the school, some of which have been truly disgusting. We’re certainly all entitled to our views, however we must continue to do that in a respectful way. Targeted attacks on any one individual, as we have seen in the past week, is completely unacceptable and I along with the Premier certainly condemn it.
I can say you’ve asked if I could table a letter that went from the department Secretary to the Premier – that is not mine to table. I think that question would probably need to go to the Premier via the Leader.
