A parliamentary question regarding the safety and unfolding of Schoolies Week celebrations on Rottnest Island. The Minister's response details statistics, incidents, and expresses gratitude to volunteers and staff for ensuring a safe environment.

AnsweredQoN 653Legislative Assembly
Asked
5 December 2001
Portfolio
Tourism

QuestionView source ↗

SCHOOLIES WEEK, ROTTNEST ISLAND
The celebrations at Rottnest Island by students at the end of their final school year received extensive publicity again this year. I know that the Rottnest Island Authority emphasises safe celebrations. Will the minister tell the House how schoolies week unfolded this year? Mr BROWN

AnswerView source ↗

I visited Rottnest Island during schoolies week, and it was an interesting experience. I was there for only a little over an hour and a half. Several members interjected. Mr BROWN: It was an interesting experience. It is estimated that between 4 000 and 5 000 students stayed on the island between 21 and 29 November. Seven people were arrested and 108 were evicted - not all were school students. Some high-profile incidents did occur, such as a boat crashing into a jetty and a young man falling off a cliff. I am pleased to report that the celebrations were reasonably safe and most young people enjoyed themselves. I pay tribute to those behind the scenes who helped to ensure that the young people were able to celebrate safely. Many volunteers worked on the island. I thank them on behalf of the people and the Government of Western Australia. They ranged from the Drug ARM volunteers to the people in the chill-out tent. The Drug ARM volunteers provided 5 000 cups of cordial and water, treated 70 people for cuts and grazes, referred 40 people to the nursing post and conducted 400 educational conversations about drug and alcohol issues. On behalf of the Government, I also thank the Police Service, the Rottnest rangers and the staff of the nursing post, and all who stayed on the island. The volunteers and paid staff put in an enormous effort, often while sleep deprived. They are committed to making the island a terrific place to visit and they will continue to ensure that school leavers have a great and safe time on the island.
Mr BROWN replied: I visited Rottnest Island during schoolies week, and it was an interesting experience. I was there for only a little over an hour and a half. Several members interjected. Mr BROWN: It was an interesting experience. It is estimated that between 4 000 and 5 000 students stayed on the island between 21 and 29 November. Seven people were arrested and 108 were evicted - not all were school students. Some high-profile incidents did occur, such as a boat crashing into a jetty and a young man falling off a cliff. I am pleased to report that the celebrations were reasonably safe and most young people enjoyed themselves. I pay tribute to those behind the scenes who helped to ensure that the young people were able to celebrate safely. Many volunteers worked on the island. I thank them on behalf of the people and the Government of Western Australia. They ranged from the Drug ARM volunteers to the people in the chill-out tent. The Drug ARM volunteers provided 5 000 cups of cordial and water, treated 70 people for cuts and grazes, referred 40 people to the nursing post and conducted 400 educational conversations about drug and alcohol issues. On behalf of the Government, I also thank the Police Service, the Rottnest rangers and the staff of the nursing post, and all who stayed on the island. The volunteers and paid staff put in an enormous effort, often while sleep deprived. They are committed to making the island a terrific place to visit and they will continue to ensure that school leavers have a great and safe time on the island.
I visited Rottnest Island during schoolies week, and it was an interesting experience. I was there for only a little over an hour and a half. Several members interjected. Mr BROWN: It was an interesting experience. It is estimated that between 4 000 and 5 000 students stayed on the island between 21 and 29 November. Seven people were arrested and 108 were evicted - not all were school students. Some high-profile incidents did occur, such as a boat crashing into a jetty and a young man falling off a cliff. I am pleased to report that the celebrations were reasonably safe and most young people enjoyed themselves. I pay tribute to those behind the scenes who helped to ensure that the young people were able to celebrate safely. Many volunteers worked on the island. I thank them on behalf of the people and the Government of Western Australia. They ranged from the Drug ARM volunteers to the people in the chill-out tent. The Drug ARM volunteers provided 5 000 cups of cordial and water, treated 70 people for cuts and grazes, referred 40 people to the nursing post and conducted 400 educational conversations about drug and alcohol issues. On behalf of the Government, I also thank the Police Service, the Rottnest rangers and the staff of the nursing post, and all who stayed on the island. The volunteers and paid staff put in an enormous effort, often while sleep deprived. They are committed to making the island a terrific place to visit and they will continue to ensure that school leavers have a great and safe time on the island.
Several members interjected. Mr BROWN: It was an interesting experience. It is estimated that between 4 000 and 5 000 students stayed on the island between 21 and 29 November. Seven people were arrested and 108 were evicted - not all were school students. Some high-profile incidents did occur, such as a boat crashing into a jetty and a young man falling off a cliff. I am pleased to report that the celebrations were reasonably safe and most young people enjoyed themselves. I pay tribute to those behind the scenes who helped to ensure that the young people were able to celebrate safely. Many volunteers worked on the island. I thank them on behalf of the people and the Government of Western Australia. They ranged from the Drug ARM volunteers to the people in the chill-out tent. The Drug ARM volunteers provided 5 000 cups of cordial and water, treated 70 people for cuts and grazes, referred 40 people to the nursing post and conducted 400 educational conversations about drug and alcohol issues. On behalf of the Government, I also thank the Police Service, the Rottnest rangers and the staff of the nursing post, and all who stayed on the island. The volunteers and paid staff put in an enormous effort, often while sleep deprived. They are committed to making the island a terrific place to visit and they will continue to ensure that school leavers have a great and safe time on the island.
Mr BROWN: It was an interesting experience. It is estimated that between 4 000 and 5 000 students stayed on the island between 21 and 29 November. Seven people were arrested and 108 were evicted - not all were school students. Some high-profile incidents did occur, such as a boat crashing into a jetty and a young man falling off a cliff. I am pleased to report that the celebrations were reasonably safe and most young people enjoyed themselves. I pay tribute to those behind the scenes who helped to ensure that the young people were able to celebrate safely. Many volunteers worked on the island. I thank them on behalf of the people and the Government of Western Australia. They ranged from the Drug ARM volunteers to the people in the chill-out tent. The Drug ARM volunteers provided 5 000 cups of cordial and water, treated 70 people for cuts and grazes, referred 40 people to the nursing post and conducted 400 educational conversations about drug and alcohol issues. On behalf of the Government, I also thank the Police Service, the Rottnest rangers and the staff of the nursing post, and all who stayed on the island. The volunteers and paid staff put in an enormous effort, often while sleep deprived. They are committed to making the island a terrific place to visit and they will continue to ensure that school leavers have a great and safe time on the island.
It is estimated that between 4 000 and 5 000 students stayed on the island between 21 and 29 November. Seven people were arrested and 108 were evicted - not all were school students. Some high-profile incidents did occur, such as a boat crashing into a jetty and a young man falling off a cliff. I am pleased to report that the celebrations were reasonably safe and most young people enjoyed themselves. I pay tribute to those behind the scenes who helped to ensure that the young people were able to celebrate safely. Many volunteers worked on the island. I thank them on behalf of the people and the Government of Western Australia. They ranged from the Drug ARM volunteers to the people in the chill-out tent. The Drug ARM volunteers provided 5 000 cups of cordial and water, treated 70 people for cuts and grazes, referred 40 people to the nursing post and conducted 400 educational conversations about drug and alcohol issues. On behalf of the Government, I also thank the Police Service, the Rottnest rangers and the staff of the nursing post, and all who stayed on the island. The volunteers and paid staff put in an enormous effort, often while sleep deprived. They are committed to making the island a terrific place to visit and they will continue to ensure that school leavers have a great and safe time on the island.
I pay tribute to those behind the scenes who helped to ensure that the young people were able to celebrate safely. Many volunteers worked on the island. I thank them on behalf of the people and the Government of Western Australia. They ranged from the Drug ARM volunteers to the people in the chill-out tent. The Drug ARM volunteers provided 5 000 cups of cordial and water, treated 70 people for cuts and grazes, referred 40 people to the nursing post and conducted 400 educational conversations about drug and alcohol issues. On behalf of the Government, I also thank the Police Service, the Rottnest rangers and the staff of the nursing post, and all who stayed on the island. The volunteers and paid staff put in an enormous effort, often while sleep deprived. They are committed to making the island a terrific place to visit and they will continue to ensure that school leavers have a great and safe time on the island.

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