Mrs BRAHAM - 2007-02-21
Last year, your predecessor closed the Irrkerlantye Learning Centre and forced the children to attend Bradshaw Primary School. Do you support apartheid in your schools? If not, why are these children being forced to have their recess and lunch at a different time to the rest of the school? Why have you allowed this policy to be introduced that marginalises these students even further? How will they be accepted in the mainstream if you continue to allow this separatist policy to continue? Is this your idea of integration? Do you agree with this policy and, if not, what are you going to do about it?
Mr Stirling: How were they being accepted stuck out at Irrkerlantye on their own? How is that mainstream?
Mrs Braham: That was completely isolating them!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Braitling. I am saddened by the way she asked it. I believe that the member for Braitling does have a genuine regard for these kids. The question could have been rephrased, because this is a difficult situation. First, I give my thanks to my predecessor in this role, because it was a courageous decision. The former minister took a whole heap of significant heat on this issue from ill-informed comment, whatever the motivation for them was, from Alice Springs. As minister, I have very quickly made it my business to visit the Irrkerlantye students, both at Bradshaw and at Alice Springs High School.
Before I answer the question, I place on the record my total admiration and thanks to the fantastic teachers at both of those schools, and the principals, who have worked their butts off. Their commitment, dedication, and professionalism in bringing those children into a mainstream education environment was inspiring. I spent time in the classroom and it was absolutely inspiring.
These kids should not be a political football. These are some of the most disadvantaged children in the Northern Territory who deserve an opportunity in life, who deserve an education, who deserve a mainstream education. That is what they are getting at Bradshaw and at Alice Springs High. They were not getting that on the town camps.
What is in their best interest in how their day is structured, and their formal involvement within the school, I will leave to the professionals. I will leave that to the dedicated, professional people who are making decisions in the best interests of those children. They are not segregating those kids. There is no apartheid regime. I am saddened that the member for Braitling would use that term because they are in a mainstream school with mainstream facilities, being taught with the same academic rigour and focus that other mainstream kids are being taught. They will, when they …
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the member for Braitling used to be a teacher, and I am sure she would not let her kids talk in class when she was talking.
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, cease interjecting. Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: This is a serious issue and it should not be treated as a political football. Those students will be absorbed into the mainstream of that school and of Alice Springs High when the professionals make a decision that they are ready. We do not want to lose those kids back to the squalor of the town camps and deny them the opportunity of an education that every Territory child deserves.
They are doing a great job. I was absolutely inspired by those teachers. It is a pretty difficult job teaching those kids. They are delightful kids. I sat in the classroom; accelerated literacy in the classroom; they were reading. They are getting a chance in life, thanks to my predecessor, the former minister, and this government. We should not be using them as a political football.
Mr Stirling: How were they being accepted stuck out at Irrkerlantye on their own? How is that mainstream?
Mrs Braham: That was completely isolating them!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Braitling. I am saddened by the way she asked it. I believe that the member for Braitling does have a genuine regard for these kids. The question could have been rephrased, because this is a difficult situation. First, I give my thanks to my predecessor in this role, because it was a courageous decision. The former minister took a whole heap of significant heat on this issue from ill-informed comment, whatever the motivation for them was, from Alice Springs. As minister, I have very quickly made it my business to visit the Irrkerlantye students, both at Bradshaw and at Alice Springs High School.
Before I answer the question, I place on the record my total admiration and thanks to the fantastic teachers at both of those schools, and the principals, who have worked their butts off. Their commitment, dedication, and professionalism in bringing those children into a mainstream education environment was inspiring. I spent time in the classroom and it was absolutely inspiring.
These kids should not be a political football. These are some of the most disadvantaged children in the Northern Territory who deserve an opportunity in life, who deserve an education, who deserve a mainstream education. That is what they are getting at Bradshaw and at Alice Springs High. They were not getting that on the town camps.
What is in their best interest in how their day is structured, and their formal involvement within the school, I will leave to the professionals. I will leave that to the dedicated, professional people who are making decisions in the best interests of those children. They are not segregating those kids. There is no apartheid regime. I am saddened that the member for Braitling would use that term because they are in a mainstream school with mainstream facilities, being taught with the same academic rigour and focus that other mainstream kids are being taught. They will, when they …
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the member for Braitling used to be a teacher, and I am sure she would not let her kids talk in class when she was talking.
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, cease interjecting. Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: This is a serious issue and it should not be treated as a political football. Those students will be absorbed into the mainstream of that school and of Alice Springs High when the professionals make a decision that they are ready. We do not want to lose those kids back to the squalor of the town camps and deny them the opportunity of an education that every Territory child deserves.
They are doing a great job. I was absolutely inspired by those teachers. It is a pretty difficult job teaching those kids. They are delightful kids. I sat in the classroom; accelerated literacy in the classroom; they were reading. They are getting a chance in life, thanks to my predecessor, the former minister, and this government. We should not be using them as a political football.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016