Adam Bandt from The Greens asked the Prime Minister why he’s not showing more commitment to the Safe Schools Coalition program and caving into demands from the right wing of his party.
Adam Bandt took the opportunity in Question Time this afternoon to suggest the Prime Minister was under the thumb of his conservative colleagues.
“The Safe Schools program has stopping bullying around the country and has helped many young people feel that they fit in. PM, is your commitment to socially progressive values so skin deep that you will put young people’s welfare at risk and throw a successful anti-bullying campaign under a bus just because the bigots in the conservative brotherhood tell you to?” Mr Bandt asked.
The use of the un-parliamentary language, by using the word ‘bigot’, drew many shouts from the Liberal members.
Labor’s Graham Perrett called back ‘It’s not a roll call’, his comment getting him booted out of the chamber by speaker Tony Smith.
@MarkDiStef when many in the LNP yelled at Adam Bandt after his bigot comment, I said, “It’s not a roll call”.
— Graham Perrett (@GrahamPerrettMP) March 1, 2016
After Mr Bandt agreed to withdraw the last part of his questions, the Prime Minister answered. Malcolm Turnbull said the government was committed to creating safe environments for children.
“Every child has the right to be safe at school has the right to be safe at home. We have no tolerance for bullying of any kind. Let’s be quite clear about that.
“Bullying whether it is in the classroom or on the bus, on the internet. Wherever it occurs it is utterly unacceptable and it is unacceptable in whatever basis that bullying occurs. Whether it is on the basis of a child’s sexual orientation, their perception of their sexuality, their race, gender, their religion, their appearance.” Mr Turnbull said.
The Prime Minister said that when he was a child bully was much more of a face-to-face issue, but acknowledged that cyber-bullying was a serious concern. Mr Turnbull said the destructive bullying that occurs online can do enormous damage.
“We are totally committed to schools being safe.” the Prime Minister said.
Mr Turnbull said requesting a review of the program was the responsible action for the government to take. Mr Turnbull committed to making the outcomes of the review public and said once it’s completed will be the time make a judgement about the future of the Safe Schools Coalition.
“We’ll be able to judge the merits of the criticism, and what, if any, steps should be taken as consequences of the review.” Mr Turbull said.
Despite the Prime Minister requesting a review of the anti-bullying program the PM appears to have failed to belay the concerns of conservative members of his party with many continuing to call for all funding to be pulled from the program.
Today former Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the Safe Schools Coaliton as “social engineering” and called for its funding to be removed. Other conservative politicians have also called for it to be axed with Cory Bernardi, George Christensen and Labor’s Joe Bullock voicing their opposition.
Labor’s Senator Penny Wong has told ABC Radio that she’s surprised the issue has become so polarised along political lines.
“I didn’t think people would have such an issue with their children being taught acceptance and tolerance.
“The extent to which the hard right will go to perpetuate their views and frankly their prejudices I think has been a sight to behold,” Senator Wong told ABC Radio earlier today.
“Can you imagine if you were a 15 year old boy who was struggling with who he is, how this debate would be playing?” Senator Wong asked.
Watch the exchange below.
Posted by Scott Ludlam on Monday, February 29, 2016
