Mr WOOD - 2002-02-26
Minister, as you are aware, the start of the school year in the rural area was disrupted by changes to the bus services. Much of this related to a lack of consultation by your department with parents and teachers. In fact, the first day they knew of the changes was on the first day of school. Whilst I realise you certainly, personally, intervened to straighten out these problems - and I am most appreciative of that - could you please answer the following questions about the press statement you released on 28 January.
It said that your department had: ‘… met with parents and teachers on Friday …’ - that is the Friday before school started - ‘… to explain necessary changes to arrangements caused by the new Girraween School’. Was this statement true? Who wrote this statement? What is being done to make sure such statements are accurate, and what directives have you given your department to make sure the lack of consultation and the autocratic way the first meeting on 25 January was held with the principals and one teacher parent, is not repeated?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to acknowledge that I apologised publicly to the parents, principals and the students. I found the department had acted inappropriately and I made sure they knew about it.
They consulted with people, but they consulted with a very small number of people. They did not conduct extensive consultations. Yes, I recognise that they did not act the way they should, but I am prepared to stand up here and admit that one. I also made sure that they knew about it, and they will act immediately to rectify the situation.
I also thank the member for Nelson, who was the only member of parliament who contacted me repeatedly with information and requested I resolve the problem. For that reason, I invited him to be with me when I visited the interchange area to have a personal view of what was happening. Following my visit, the problem was rectified. There is a new interchange at St Francis of Assisi School, and we have agreed to help the school erect some shelter for the children. We have now resolved the situation to the satisfaction of all members involved.
It said that your department had: ‘… met with parents and teachers on Friday …’ - that is the Friday before school started - ‘… to explain necessary changes to arrangements caused by the new Girraween School’. Was this statement true? Who wrote this statement? What is being done to make sure such statements are accurate, and what directives have you given your department to make sure the lack of consultation and the autocratic way the first meeting on 25 January was held with the principals and one teacher parent, is not repeated?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to acknowledge that I apologised publicly to the parents, principals and the students. I found the department had acted inappropriately and I made sure they knew about it.
They consulted with people, but they consulted with a very small number of people. They did not conduct extensive consultations. Yes, I recognise that they did not act the way they should, but I am prepared to stand up here and admit that one. I also made sure that they knew about it, and they will act immediately to rectify the situation.
I also thank the member for Nelson, who was the only member of parliament who contacted me repeatedly with information and requested I resolve the problem. For that reason, I invited him to be with me when I visited the interchange area to have a personal view of what was happening. Following my visit, the problem was rectified. There is a new interchange at St Francis of Assisi School, and we have agreed to help the school erect some shelter for the children. We have now resolved the situation to the satisfaction of all members involved.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016