Mr SETTER - 1994-10-06
I was concerned to hear recent media reports regarding violence on Groote Eylandt and to hear that, as a result of that violence, schools had to be closed. This is a very serious action for the minister to take. Will he outline the circumstances that led to it?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is certainly not a matter to be taken lightly and it is one on which the department, with my total support, has taken a very strong stand. We will not expose our teachers and their families to community or individual violence in any way, shape or form. It has been a sad fact that, despite the enormous sums of money that have been put into Aboriginal education in the Northern Territory - some 40% over and above the Territory average, which in itself is 50% higher than the Australian average - from time to time we have difficulties in communities where there are schools that warrant closure for various periods of time.
In relation to Umbakumba, I need to acknowledge first that the Umbakumba community itself recognised the difficulties that prevailed there at the time. I understand that those difficulties may be abating at the moment, although the report in last Monday's NT News does not provide one with enormous encouragement. The problems in that community originate principally from alcohol and the breakdown of the authority of community elders over the younger people. This has meant that, over a period, there have been a number of violent actions, not necessarily directed specifically towards the teachers or their families, but nevertheless actions that have left the teachers feeling threatened. One lost a car several times as a result of theft. On one occasion, a crowbar was used to smash the windscreen. That was certainly enough to make her a little nervous, to say the least.
There was another incident at Willowra where I believe shots were fired into the home of the family of one of the teachers. I understand that that community is normally well-organised and reasonably orderly. The arrangement there was that the long-serving head teacher, a person well-respected in the community, felt comfortable enough to continue the operation of the school on his own. However, the teacher's family felt threatened and they were evacuated. I believe that is an understandable process.
However, whether the outcome of these incidents is the closure of a school, as in the case of Umbakumba, or the removal of individual teachers for their own safety, the disruption to the learning of the students affected is considerable and such action is not taken lightly. Indeed, it is usually taken after deliberation and consultation with the community involved. We have had to do otherwise on occasion but, in saying that, I do not refer to the 2 cases mentioned today. Nonetheless, these are serious instances. The disruption and the cost of removing teachers and of recruiting new teachers eventually are considerable.
As a result of discussions over the last few days in relation to Umbakumba, it has been decided that the school will reopen for the fourth term. However, the principal will be returning alone. He will be the only external teacher to return. The local teachers and teacher assistants will be there and they will set some kind of program for the students for the immediate future. Obviously, there will be some difficulty in recruiting replacement staff given the long track record of difficulties at Umbakumba. Nonetheless, the department has received a very firm and strong commitment from the community itself, and it is only on that basis that we can reopen the school and get it back to some type of reasonable operation.
I took on board the criticism of the ALP spokesman on Aboriginal education, the member for Arafura, during his recent trip to Tasmania. I do not know whether it was simply
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to justify the trip, but the nonsense he spoke about this government's lack of support for Aboriginal schools was exactly that - nonsense - and the same applies to Hon Warren Snowdon. Instead of being constructive and supportive and acknowledging that the Territory CLP government expends enormous sums of money and provides excellent facilities, fine schools, excellent computer equipment ...
Mr Ede: Garbage!
Mr FINCH: ... excellent teachers ...
Mr Ede: That is garbage.
Mr FINCH: It is not garbage. You can go to some of the remotest Aboriginal schools ...
Mr Ede: That is a load of garbage! You go to Yuendumu and the Aboriginal children cannot even hear.
Mr FINCH: Why don't you have a look at some of them yourself? Take a little time out and start with your own electorate. Name any of those schools that do not have these facilities because I can tell you that I have been to many of them and they have CD-ROM and computer access to wider ...
Mr Bailey: The kids cannot hear. They have hearing problems. They ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bailey: They have a CD-ROM, but nothing else!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: The member for Wanguri may not have a hearing problem, but he has a vacuum between his ears.
Mr Speaker, let me put it on the record that this government will remain committed to putting those resources into Aboriginal schools in remote areas in particular, and all we ask is for a commitment from the communities to support the teachers and a commitment from members opposite not to undermine the good work the teachers are doing.
Page 187
Page 185
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is certainly not a matter to be taken lightly and it is one on which the department, with my total support, has taken a very strong stand. We will not expose our teachers and their families to community or individual violence in any way, shape or form. It has been a sad fact that, despite the enormous sums of money that have been put into Aboriginal education in the Northern Territory - some 40% over and above the Territory average, which in itself is 50% higher than the Australian average - from time to time we have difficulties in communities where there are schools that warrant closure for various periods of time.
In relation to Umbakumba, I need to acknowledge first that the Umbakumba community itself recognised the difficulties that prevailed there at the time. I understand that those difficulties may be abating at the moment, although the report in last Monday's NT News does not provide one with enormous encouragement. The problems in that community originate principally from alcohol and the breakdown of the authority of community elders over the younger people. This has meant that, over a period, there have been a number of violent actions, not necessarily directed specifically towards the teachers or their families, but nevertheless actions that have left the teachers feeling threatened. One lost a car several times as a result of theft. On one occasion, a crowbar was used to smash the windscreen. That was certainly enough to make her a little nervous, to say the least.
There was another incident at Willowra where I believe shots were fired into the home of the family of one of the teachers. I understand that that community is normally well-organised and reasonably orderly. The arrangement there was that the long-serving head teacher, a person well-respected in the community, felt comfortable enough to continue the operation of the school on his own. However, the teacher's family felt threatened and they were evacuated. I believe that is an understandable process.
However, whether the outcome of these incidents is the closure of a school, as in the case of Umbakumba, or the removal of individual teachers for their own safety, the disruption to the learning of the students affected is considerable and such action is not taken lightly. Indeed, it is usually taken after deliberation and consultation with the community involved. We have had to do otherwise on occasion but, in saying that, I do not refer to the 2 cases mentioned today. Nonetheless, these are serious instances. The disruption and the cost of removing teachers and of recruiting new teachers eventually are considerable.
As a result of discussions over the last few days in relation to Umbakumba, it has been decided that the school will reopen for the fourth term. However, the principal will be returning alone. He will be the only external teacher to return. The local teachers and teacher assistants will be there and they will set some kind of program for the students for the immediate future. Obviously, there will be some difficulty in recruiting replacement staff given the long track record of difficulties at Umbakumba. Nonetheless, the department has received a very firm and strong commitment from the community itself, and it is only on that basis that we can reopen the school and get it back to some type of reasonable operation.
I took on board the criticism of the ALP spokesman on Aboriginal education, the member for Arafura, during his recent trip to Tasmania. I do not know whether it was simply
Page 186
to justify the trip, but the nonsense he spoke about this government's lack of support for Aboriginal schools was exactly that - nonsense - and the same applies to Hon Warren Snowdon. Instead of being constructive and supportive and acknowledging that the Territory CLP government expends enormous sums of money and provides excellent facilities, fine schools, excellent computer equipment ...
Mr Ede: Garbage!
Mr FINCH: ... excellent teachers ...
Mr Ede: That is garbage.
Mr FINCH: It is not garbage. You can go to some of the remotest Aboriginal schools ...
Mr Ede: That is a load of garbage! You go to Yuendumu and the Aboriginal children cannot even hear.
Mr FINCH: Why don't you have a look at some of them yourself? Take a little time out and start with your own electorate. Name any of those schools that do not have these facilities because I can tell you that I have been to many of them and they have CD-ROM and computer access to wider ...
Mr Bailey: The kids cannot hear. They have hearing problems. They ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bailey: They have a CD-ROM, but nothing else!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr FINCH: The member for Wanguri may not have a hearing problem, but he has a vacuum between his ears.
Mr Speaker, let me put it on the record that this government will remain committed to putting those resources into Aboriginal schools in remote areas in particular, and all we ask is for a commitment from the communities to support the teachers and a commitment from members opposite not to undermine the good work the teachers are doing.
Page 187
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016