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- 26 May 2005
Schools Safety
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Mr ALAN ASHTON (East Hills) [12.32 p.m.]: I move:
That this House congratulates the Government on the steps it has taken to make schools safer, including the school fencing program, the establishment of the Safety and Security Directorate and the program of crime prevention workshops.
The Government has implemented its detailed plan for the personal safety of school students and staff and the security of school buildings and property. The Government's Safer Schools Program was launched in 2003 and is taking effect in our public education system in New South Wales. For example, during the recent school holidays, trespassing in government schools was down by 47 per cent on the previous year, the incidence of fires was down by 33 per cent and illegal entry was down by over 12 per cent. We are always working to support our schools and we are working with staff to make the workplace as safe as possible for them and, most important, for our students.
In 2002 two community parents and police forums were held to develop plans to make all our schools safer. Through co-operation between local communities and NSW Police, we will achieve our goals in relation to protecting personal safety and physical security in schools, as well as the security of buildings and infrastructure. The special Safety and Security Directorate of the Department of Education and Training provides advice and support to schools in the management of serious incidents involving violence and weapons. One of the key players in that Safety and Security Directorate is Mr Ike Ellis, former local area commander and senior police officer at Bankstown. He is a good bloke who is well respected in the area, and he is doing an excellent job. Recently he told me he would be happy to visit any schools at any time to talk to them about their security problems and fencing needs and then try to prioritise those matters. Three schools in my area are keen to have security fencing upgrades and I will take up Mr Ellis's offer.
The directorate includes a schools safety and response unit, which provides serious incident assistance advice and support to schools. The phone hotline, which is 1300 363 778, has been established to ensure that schools receive expert advice and support 24 hours a day seven days a week. The school security unit protects the education system's physical assets, which are valued at more than $15 billion. The unit manages the Government's security fencing program, monitors alarms and deploys contract security guards who physically patrol schools. Many schools in my electorate and the electorate at Bankstown already have security fences, alarm systems and security systems where necessary. For example, dedicated security guards operate in high-risk schools over weekends and during school vacations. That has clearly resulted in fewer security breaches, vandalism and major fires.
The visible presence of security guards deters people from inappropriately entering school facilities and causing damage. Many school have benefited from the you-beaut green Diplomat fences, but the downside is that schools without the fencing then make representations to have it. Funding is allocated on priority and need, but as local members we have a responsibility to represent every school that seeks our assistance. The incidence of vandalism and violence over holidays and weekends has declined incredibly as a result of these measures. People might argue about statistics in a range of matters in politics, but the Diplomat fences have been the most successful measure in protecting our most important asset. Of course, the kids in our schools, the parent community and teachers are most precious, but without good buildings and proper protection taxpayers' money will be wasted on vandalism repair, which distresses teachers, students and parents alike.
During school hours principals can also invoke the provisions of the Enclosed Lands Protection Act 1901 to restrict persons from entering onto departmental premises. The Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment Act 2002 has increased penalties for assault, harassment, stalking or intimidation of students and staff when they are on or while they are leaving school grounds. These are important amendments. I was formerly a teacher, as was the honourable member for Bankstown. Indeed, many members of Parliament have the privilege of having a teaching background. That widens one's experience as a member of Parliament, and I am sure former teachers would acknowledge these important initiatives.
Although security and fences are important, a strict regime is needed for dealing with those who threaten the good behaviour, manners and physical safety of our students at school. From the beginning of this year new procedures for the suspension and expulsion of school student have been implemented in our schools. In line with those procedures, principals may impose a short suspension of up to four days, a long suspension of up to 20 days, expel a student from school—and that is vital because that discretion now rests with the principal, not merely the Minister—or recommend to the Minister that a student who has been expelled not be allowed to re-enrol in any government school.
Principals are expected to suspend immediately any student who is violent, threatens violence or possesses a prohibited weapon or suspected illegal substance. Some years ago principals were not confident that they would be supported if they chose to suspend a student for any length of time. A recent media article stated that many parents feel they have the right to metaphorically bash a principal by claiming that their child only did terrible things because he or she was being picked on. If a student is violent at school, threatens violence or possesses a prohibited weapon or suspected illegal substance that student should be suspended immediately by the principal. I hope that that point is picked up because it is not good enough for a principal to say, "We don't want the bad publicity". The publicity is good publicity when students are expelled for doing these things in government schools. That will let the community know that government schools are safe and getting safer.
Another initiative is the crime prevention workshops and joint curriculum initiatives of the Department of Education and Training and NSW Police, which were implemented in schools by specialist youth police and classroom teachers. The crime prevention workshop program has recently been updated for students in years 7 and 8, and a new program is being developed for students in years 5 and 6. The secondary program has been externally evaluated, and I am informed that the results show that the program is successful in improving students' understanding of the consequences of crime, changing their self-reported behaviour and avoiding crime involvement.
When we teach students about crime prevention we lessen the chances that they will fall victim to crime. We also hope that we encourage them to recognise that they should not become part of a criminal pattern of behaviour. Criminal and bad behaviour at school can be corrected. If such behaviour is not corrected through schools, parents, the juvenile justice system, cautions and warnings, the people involved often go on to commit major felonies later and they end up in the big house, as we might say, paying a much bigger penalty. Unfortunately, they had not paid attention to what happens in gaols.
A range of other safety and security measures has been undertaken in our schools to eliminate or to manage serious incidents involving violence and weapons, in conjunction with local area commanders. We have an excellent relationship with Superintendent Mike Plotecki at the Bankstown Local Area Command. He has provided the honourable member for Bankstown, the honourable member for Menai, the Minister for Housing, the honourable member for Auburn and me with only good reports. Bankstown Local Area Command looks after areas in at least six electorates.
We also have the aim of reducing fires in schools. A co-ordinated approach is being implemented in conjunction with New South Wales Fire Brigades, and a senior fire officer is being seconded to the Safety and Security Directorate to support this initiative. A memorandum of understanding between schools and NSW Police to share relevant information about the prevention of crime and reducing the risk of crime, and increased co-operation between schools and police, has also been undertaken. I will say a little more in my reply to the debate. The Government has a proud record of recognising that we can make our schools safer. We can improve fencing, and we are doing that. We can give greater powers to teachers and police to act on school premises when necessary. We also have an excellent record of establishing alarms and other security systems in government schools.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER (North Shore) [12.42 p.m.]: It is interesting to note that notice of this motion, which congratulates the Government on its activity to make schools safer, was given by the honourable member for East Hills in May 2003. The New South Wales crime statistics for 2003, which were released by the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research [BOCSAR], show that in 1998 there were 883 reports of assault in public secondary and primary schools. In contrast, there were 1,290 in 2003. In relation to sexual assaults, there were 11 reports in 1998; there were 17 in 2003. That shows that the situation has worsened dramatically. The union's response to the figures released by the department is interesting. The honourable member for East Hills would have a high regard for members of the Teachers Federation and the union as he is a former teacher. An article in the Sun-Herald of 3 August 2003, with the headline "School violence figures 'manipulated'", stated:
Only incidents that disrupt an entire school—not just one class—are being counted by the Education Department in figures of school violence, say teachers.
From tomorrow, teachers across NSW will begin a meticulous tally of incidents because they believe the department is manipulating its data to show a fall in classroom violence.
Mr Alan Ashton: That's a false accusation.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: That is what the Teachers Federation said. The federation then embarked on an audit of teachers throughout New South Wales schools to find out what was happening in classrooms. Before I report on the outcome of that audit I refer to the President of the New South Wales Teachers Federation, Maree O'Halloran, who, at the time that statement was made, said that the department had redefined a "violent incident" to one that disrupted an entire school rather than a single class. She said:
They are trying to under-report the instances of violence... This goes against all the evidence that we have from our members, who believe the problems are much greater.
From tomorrow, and for the rest of August, the federation will ask teachers to log every example of violence—including threatening verbal outbursts—and lodge a report with the department and the school's union representative.
The BOCSAR report is fascinating. Recently I contacted BOCSAR and asked for the next round of recorded statistics relating to crime in schools. However, the bureau is no longer keeping those figures. Why? Because the Government wants to hide the incidents of violence in schools.
Mr Tony Stewart: We don't want more principals criticising you.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: The Parliamentary Secretary is trying to overcome his embarrassment by talking over the top of me. I am happy to defend teachers who submit reports of violence, because the matter is serious. On 22 February 2005 the Daily Telegraph ran a story on page 4 with the headline "Secret horror: teacher assaults". The story contained information about a violence audit conducted by the Teachers Federation, to which I referred earlier. Schools that took part in the audit faxed the audit forms directly to the Department of Education and Training and the Teachers Federation. The federation's web site has this report:
It was the proper course of action for the employer to be notified of all problems so that they could be addressed. The Federation conducted the audit to gauge the level of violence against teachers. The Federation believed that the figures published by Department of Education and Training greatly understated the problem. Hence the Department could avoid its Occupational Health and Safety responsibilities as an employer. The audit provided clear evidence that this was the case.
The Daily Telegraph article, which appears on the federation's web site, stated:
The results of an audit of violence against teachers in schools are so shocking that they have been marked "never for public release".
It is understood several thousand violent incidents—at least—have been recorded in the private survey conducted by the NSW Teachers Federation.
But senior federation officials have decided to keep the audit results secret because they fear the release will bring public education into disrepute.
Federation President Maree O'Halloran yesterday said that a decision had been taken to withhold the data which seriously taints the image of government schools.
Yet the Carr Government and the federation maintain a public stance that the state's 2230 public schools are "safe" places.
Ms O'Halloran confirmed the federation had conducted a major survey of its members on violence but refused to reveal details, saying only that the results were "very, very serious".
But the Daily Telegraph has learned that many of the assaults were in "special education schools", including those for the worst behaved students.
Evidence of classroom violence formed part of the teachers' pay case argued out in the IRC last year.
The Daily Telegraph article also refers to the WorkCover statistics that I obtained under freedom of information legislation. Those statistics show that as at January this year the Government had paid $135.6 million in WorkCover claims for employees in schools and TAFE over the past two years. Some $56.2 million was paid to Department of Education and Training employees in 2003-04. A total of 160,969 weeks of work were lost over two years because of those illnesses and injuries. I do not know how any honourable member can claim that is acceptable.
There was also an increase in claims the previous year. Teachers were by far the largest group of claimants in 2003-04: 2,075 secondary school teachers and 1,615 primary school teachers. Mental disorders were reported by 944 schoolteachers—17.4 per cent of all claims—and by 82 TAFE teachers, 12.3 per cent of all claims. It is beyond me how the Government can seriously expect this House to vote in favour of a motion congratulating it on making schools safer places, against the background of those figures showing how many union members are being forced to take injuries to WorkCover for compensation.
Some of the initiatives the Government has taken to address increased violence in schools—apart from the fact that it is trying to hide the extent of the incidents—include patrols over the school holidays. Over the past Easter holiday I received a call from the president of the parents and citizens association at Athelstane Public School, which had been broken into once again and had graffiti sprayed on walls and windows smashed. The Government had turned a blind eye to providing adequate security at the school. The school had been promised security fencing but it still has not been provided.
The fact that the words "There's a bomb inside" were spray-painted on the door of the special education classroom was disturbing. I stood there nearly all day so we could not be accused by Government members of being opportunistic. We called the police and they turned up. The police were so concerned about it that they cordoned off the building and called in a sniffer dog. Neighbours, the local shopkeeper and kids riding their bikes in the vicinity said the graffiti had been there for some time and the security patrol had totally ignored it. What a farce!
The Government then announced a security CD—a misleading and ineffective stunt—supposedly showing the theft of a school computer. What a wasteful stunt to divert attention from the war the Government was waging on teachers at that time! It should have been getting serious, admitting there are increasing problems of violence in schools and doing something about it. The Minister then came out with another stunt: police training for principals. Recently I visited a special school where increased numbers of students and teachers had been hospitalised because of injuries caused by students with serious behaviour problems. Shame on the Government for trying to congratulate itself! [Time expired.]
Mr PETER DRAPER (Tamworth) [12.52 p.m.]: I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Government's attempts to make schools safer through the Department of Education and Training's Safer Schools Program and, in particular, the school fencing program. I understand that the Safer Schools Program was introduced in February 2003 as a method of addressing security breaches such as break and enters and vandalism to school property. Unfortunately, due to their size, exposure and hours of operation, school premises are vulnerable to criminal activity and there is little dispute that the safety and security of students is a primary concern for the Government. One of the solutions is to prevent criminals and trespassers from entering school grounds. The Government appears to be addressing that, albeit slowly, through the school fencing program, a project that has been in place for several years. However, as part of the Safer Schools Program, which was introduced two years ago, the Premier also announced the installation of 200 new security fences for schools in New South Wales by the year 2007.
The list specified government schools that were prioritised on the school fencing program. Among those were Peel High School, Tamworth High School and Westdale Public School, all of which are in my electorate. Peel High School has had its fence erected and today, with the exception of the building facade, the school is protected from intruders. Tamworth High and Westdale Public schools remain on the list and it is anticipated that fences will be erected as promised before the end of this parliamentary term. According to the Tamworth High School Principal, Mr Garry Raftery, the school is in need of a fence for both security and aesthetic reasons. Due to its location in South Tamworth between a shopping centre, licensed clubs and residential suburbs the school is subject to a high level of thoroughfare pedestrian traffic. The school provides a secluded area and people wander through and inevitably facilities are vandalised. The school would like to be able to stop these trespassers with a physical barrier.
The current fence is also very old, easy to climb over and expensive to maintain. Having waited two years, the school hopes that a new fence that circumnavigates the entire boundary will be erected in the not-too-distant future. According to the former principal for Westdale Public School, Mrs Ruythe Dufty, Westdale was placed on the priority list after experiencing a series of break and enters. The department provided the school with increased security measures, and with police help the main culprits were arrested. While the spate of offences has abated the school is still in need of a security fence due to the ever-present reality that school grounds are attractive to opportunistic criminals. As I have explained, the school fencing program continues to have relevance for schools in Tamworth, and I look forward to the department honouring its commitment given in 2003 that security fences will be erected by 2007.
In general, it seems the department's Safety and Security Directorate, which was established in April 2002 has been helpful to schools in my electorate. The directorate was established to oversee school security and it is my understanding that within the directorate's school security unit there were, until recently, nine security program officers responsible for the 43 school education areas in New South Wales. I believe these officers are allocated schools in both metropolitan and country districts, giving individual schools a point of contact within the department with whom they can discuss security and safety issues. These officers make themselves available to travel into the regions and conduct security risk assessments of the schools, predominantly upon request. The officers are also able to monitor the security situation at schools through an online reporting system. That database keeps track of any security breaches the schools report, providing the schools are vigilant in maintaining and updating this reporting system.
I was concerned when informed that due to maternity leave and transfers the group of nine security program officers had been reduced to six in recent months, with the officer responsible for the Tamworth education area being one of those to vacate the role. It is my understanding that the responsibility of safety and security issues at schools in the Tamworth area was being shared among the remaining officers until such time that numbers are restored to full strength. I only hope the recruitment process has been expedited to ensure the Tamworth education area is provided with the services of its own dedicated security program officer. It is a good step to have people who are obviously interested in balancing the needs of country and city school communities. Our school communities have a right to expect the provision of the highest level of safety and security for students as possible, and I look forward to seeing the results of the Government's ongoing security programs within the electorate of Tamworth.
Debate adjourned on motion by Mr Greg Aplin.
[Mr Acting-Speaker (Mr John Mills) left the chair at 12.57 p.m. The House resumed at 2.15 p.m.]
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