Response by Governments and Politicians on the subject of the Safe Schools Program.
Minister for Education and
Minister for Tourism and Major Events
18 April 2016
Mr Marcus Patterson
Email: patterson.marcus@gmail.com
Dear Mr Patterson
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA).
The safety and wellbeing of Queensland students is my number one priority and the
Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring Queensland schools are safe and
inclusive learning environments where all students can reach their full potential.
That is why during the 2015 state election, when principals said they needed more resources
to help them to support students in their schools, Queensland Labor listened and committed
to making the SSCA’s materials available in Queensland schools.
The Palaszczuk Government delivered on this promise and appointed True Relationships
and Open Doors as the Queensland providers of SSCA.
Unfortunately some of the commentary around SSCA has been deliberately divisive and
incorrect, particularly those comments made by members of the Liberal National Party and
the Turnbull Government.
The Palaszczuk Government’s position has not changed, SSCA resources will continue to
be available in Queensland Schools.
I will continue to work with SSCA, principals and school communities to promote safe and
inclusive schools and deliver on the promise we made to Queenslanders at the state
election.
Yours sincerely
KATE JONES MP
Minister for Education and
Minister for Tourism and Major Events
The Australian Christian Lobby Election Material Distributed In Boothby and Perth.
Letter from Federal Opposition
Marcus
Thank you for taking the time to write to me about Safe Schools.
Like you, I am extremely disappointed that Mr Turnbull has caved in to extremists in his own party and is axing all federal funding for Safe Schools from 2017.
This is despite the Education Department approving the materials late last year and Mr Turnbull’s own review finding that Safe Schools classroom resources were:
“…consistent with the aims of the program, is suitable, robust, age-appropriate, educationally sound and aligned with the Australian Curriculum”.
In 2013 Labor funded the national roll out of Safe Schools in response to shocking rates of bullying, suicide and exclusion impacting young LGBTI Australians.
80 per cent of Australian LGBTI students face verbal abuse and bullying at school. Tragically, research also shows they are six times more likely to die from suicide, and that bullying and exclusion are major factors in suicide attempts
When faced with statistics lie these, we should be supporting more anti-bullying programs like Safe Schools – not ending them.
It’s incredibly disappointing that Mr Turnbull chose not to stand up to the bullies in the Liberal party on this issue and gave his backbench a platform to say disgusting and hateful things. This has sent the wrong message to LGBTI Australians.
Every student has the right to feel safe and supported at school. I can assure you that Labor will continue to fight against Mr Turnbull’s attacks on Safe Schools.
Kate Ellis
Shadow Minister for Education
P.S. We’ve been standing up for Safe Schools since the beginning. Here is a link to a speech I made in the Parliament more than a year ago. Bill Shorten has also been standing up for SafeSchools. Click Here
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