❓ Mr Rundle raises concerns about knife crime in schools following incidents at a primary and high school, questioning the Education Minister's response. The Premier acknowledges the distress, outlines strict suspension policies for violent behaviour, and commits to considering further safety measures.
AnsweredQoN 132Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS — KNIFE
CRIME
132. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
As a result of that, I ask my
question to the Premier.
It
has been revealed that a year 2 student in a southern suburbs primary school
was caught with a knife. This follows another stabbing incident at
Carine Senior High School late last year. These shocking situations starkly
illustrate the scary reality confronting teachers in WA schools. Teachers and
students in WA should be able to teach and learn in a safe environment. Where
is the education minister when our schools are in crisis?
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
CRIME
132. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
As a result of that, I ask my
question to the Premier.
It
has been revealed that a year 2 student in a southern suburbs primary school
was caught with a knife. This follows another stabbing incident at
Carine Senior High School late last year. These shocking situations starkly
illustrate the scary reality confronting teachers in WA schools. Teachers and
students in WA should be able to teach and learn in a safe environment. Where
is the education minister when our schools are in crisis?
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
AnswerView source ↗
Obviously, we have all been distressed
by the reports of knives being used as part of criminal activity in any part of
Western Australia. As a dad from Kwinana, I see that anxiety on a daily basis.
People are concerned about these things. It is threatening and is obviously an
important part of our overall community safety activities. The idea of young
people bringing knives into schools and knives being used in major
entertainment precincts is simply not good enough and it has to stop. That is
one of the reasons that our school environments have such harsh rules at the
moment, which are that any student responsible for violent behaviour is
automatically suspended, any student who assists in that violent behaviour is
automatically suspended, and any student who films and, in particular, posts a video of violent behaviour is
automatically suspended. They are the toughest rules we have ever had in WA ,
and we make no apologies for that. It is an important part of making sure that
our schools and workplaces are places of safety, which is the reason that we
work closely with the State School Teachers' Union of WA and the Principals Federation of Western Australia to make
sure that we have in place the appropriate rules that are necessary . My
government will consider every option available to keep Western Australians
safe, including laws that are already in place in other parts of the country.
We will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that we keep people safe
in our schools.
by the reports of knives being used as part of criminal activity in any part of
Western Australia. As a dad from Kwinana, I see that anxiety on a daily basis.
People are concerned about these things. It is threatening and is obviously an
important part of our overall community safety activities. The idea of young
people bringing knives into schools and knives being used in major
entertainment precincts is simply not good enough and it has to stop. That is
one of the reasons that our school environments have such harsh rules at the
moment, which are that any student responsible for violent behaviour is
automatically suspended, any student who assists in that violent behaviour is
automatically suspended, and any student who films and, in particular, posts a video of violent behaviour is
automatically suspended. They are the toughest rules we have ever had in WA ,
and we make no apologies for that. It is an important part of making sure that
our schools and workplaces are places of safety, which is the reason that we
work closely with the State School Teachers' Union of WA and the Principals Federation of Western Australia to make
sure that we have in place the appropriate rules that are necessary . My
government will consider every option available to keep Western Australians
safe, including laws that are already in place in other parts of the country.
We will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that we keep people safe
in our schools.
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