CASINO HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
The Hon. JAN BURNSWOODS: I address my question without notice to the Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs. Is the Minister aware that the national Aboriginal day celebrations at Casino High School were turned into a games afternoon and called Australiana day? Did the games involve throwing cow manure and gumboots? Were only three Aboriginal students present at the celebrations and did the other 65 Aboriginal students boycott the games, regarding them as offensive? Will the Minister apologise to the Aboriginal community for the insulting conduct on this day?
The Hon. VIRGINIA CHADWICK: I can only say to the honourable member that I hope she understands there are about 2,300 schools in New South Wales. I did not know that Casino High School held a sports day or celebration recently, let alone whether they threw around dollops of cow manure, remarkable though I find the allegation. I apologise for my lack of knowledge of the detail of what did or did not happen at one of more than 2,000 schools in this State and I will make it an absolute priority to find out.
The Hon. E. P. PICKERING: In view of the hour I suggest that any further questions be placed on notice.
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[The Deputy-President (the Hon. D. J. Gay) left the chair at 1.4 p.m. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m.]
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