❓ A parliamentary question addresses content filtering in government schools, seeking guarantees and an audit regarding student access to inappropriate online content. The Minister acknowledges the issue, declines an audit, and criticizes the previous government's ICT policy.
AnsweredQoN 1182Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Given that individual schools make their own arrangements with Internet service providers with regard to content filtering services to restrict student access to inappropriate Internet content, I ask - (1) Can the minister guarantee that all government schools have purchased content filtering services and that no child in a government school has access to pornographic or other inappropriate web sites via a school computer? (2) If the minister is unable to give this guarantee, will he undertake as a matter of urgency an audit of all government schools to ascertain whether effective content filtering services are in place? (3) What would the department’s liability be for a student who was exposed to and adversely affected by harmful Internet sites such as chat rooms where paedophiles congregate or pro-anorexia sites? The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(1) Can the minister guarantee that all government schools have purchased content filtering services and that no child in a government school has access to pornographic or other inappropriate web sites via a school computer? (2) If the minister is unable to give this guarantee, will he undertake as a matter of urgency an audit of all government schools to ascertain whether effective content filtering services are in place? (3) What would the department’s liability be for a student who was exposed to and adversely affected by harmful Internet sites such as chat rooms where paedophiles congregate or pro-anorexia sites? The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(2) If the minister is unable to give this guarantee, will he undertake as a matter of urgency an audit of all government schools to ascertain whether effective content filtering services are in place? (3) What would the department’s liability be for a student who was exposed to and adversely affected by harmful Internet sites such as chat rooms where paedophiles congregate or pro-anorexia sites? The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(3) What would the department’s liability be for a student who was exposed to and adversely affected by harmful Internet sites such as chat rooms where paedophiles congregate or pro-anorexia sites? The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(1) Can the minister guarantee that all government schools have purchased content filtering services and that no child in a government school has access to pornographic or other inappropriate web sites via a school computer? (2) If the minister is unable to give this guarantee, will he undertake as a matter of urgency an audit of all government schools to ascertain whether effective content filtering services are in place? (3) What would the department’s liability be for a student who was exposed to and adversely affected by harmful Internet sites such as chat rooms where paedophiles congregate or pro-anorexia sites? The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(2) If the minister is unable to give this guarantee, will he undertake as a matter of urgency an audit of all government schools to ascertain whether effective content filtering services are in place? (3) What would the department’s liability be for a student who was exposed to and adversely affected by harmful Internet sites such as chat rooms where paedophiles congregate or pro-anorexia sites? The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(3) What would the department’s liability be for a student who was exposed to and adversely affected by harmful Internet sites such as chat rooms where paedophiles congregate or pro-anorexia sites? The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
The SPEAKER: Before I give the call to the minister, I think the last part of the question calls for a legal opinion. I do not direct that the minister answer the third part. Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
I thank the member for the question. Unless I am mistaken, the member has an identical question on notice. Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Dr E. Constable interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: My understanding is that a question on notice has come to my office that is virtually identical to this question. Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Dr E. Constable: It is not identical at all. Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: It is seeking an answer. (1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(1) I do not wish to mislead the Parliament and I am prepared to correct this, but my understanding of the situation is that the issues are locally managed by principals and school staff. Going back far before our time in government, as far as I am aware, there have been no incidents of children being able to access or being exposed to pornographic or inappropriate sites through their school Internet service provider. I have confidence, therefore, in the way this is being managed. (2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(2) No, I do not intend to launch into an audit in the absence of any information indicating that I should. Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Dr E. Constable: Duty of care? Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: That is right. (3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
(3) As for liability, it is a hypothetical situation that has never arisen. I am not qualified, nor am I in a position to provide an answer. I will not dwell on this because I have dealt with it a hundred times, but the department is in the process of restructuring the way in which it delivers information and communications technology to our schools to provide a better mechanism for guaranteeing both the quality and maintenance of the infrastructure and to better manage issues such as accessibility to certain sites. The problem we have been confronted with is that the original policy implementation was about as bad as it could get. It was hopeless. It was a bit like being thrown a scrambled egg and being asked to try to unscramble it. The original situation put in place under the direction of the previous minister was diabolical. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
The SPEAKER: Members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: In closing, I would like to thank the children from Paraburdoo Primary School for visiting the Parliament. Perhaps the staff might be able to illuminate the member on whether or not they are capable of managing their children’s web sites. A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
A situation was put in place by the previous Government under the direction of the now Leader of the Opposition which was disastrous and diabolical. We have gone a long way towards rectifying that situation and making sure that the information and communications technology program is properly managed and easily overseen. I have answered the question to the best of my ability. I will follow up the question that the member put on notice. I accept that the member is saying that the questions are not identical, but the member is raising the same issues.
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