SCHOOL CLOSURES —
TROPICAL CYCLONE DAMIEN — PILBARA
69. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the Minister for Education and
Training:
My
question without notice refers to school closures due to the destruction in
Karratha from tropical cyclone Damien.
(1) Which schools
remain closed in Karratha due to the cyclone as of today, and can the minister
provide reasons as to why and some sort of indication of when they might be
open?
Hon Sue Ellery:
Did you give notice?
Hon JACQUI
BOYDELL: No, I said it was without notice.
(2) What is the
minister's plan to ensure that students are attending school at the
earliest availability?
(3) Has the
minister been contacted by the member for Pilbara about the school closures?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I am happy to take the question.
The member would have got perhaps a more accurate answer if she had given me
some notice.
(1)–(3) In
respect of the last part of the member's question about the member for
Pilbara, yes, absolutely. We have been in regular contact with him. He received
a briefing. I cannot remember what date it was, but he received a briefing last
week and my office has been in contact with him, responding to queries from him
since.
As at yesterday—if I had had
some notice, I might have been able to give the member more up-to-date
information, but I cannot—Peg's Creek Primary School still has
asbestos-containing material that needs to be remediated. It is likely that
staff will return to Peg's Creek on Wednesday and students on Thursday.
I am just seeing whether there is any other information. Baynton West Primary
School, Millars Well Primary School, Wickham Primary School and Roebourne
District High School were due to open today. I am just checking whether Dampier
Primary School opened today; I cannot tell from this note. Just let me have a look.
I cannot tell from that note, but if the member had given me notice, I probably
would have been able to.
Was there any other element of the —
Hon Jacqui Boydell: With
respect, this is a very urgent issue in Karratha. These kids haven't
been in school for a week. I would've thought you would know about
that.
Hon SUE ELLERY: I agree, and
I am giving the member the answer. I am telling her that if she had given me
notice, I would have been able to give her the precise date that —
Hon Jacqui Boydell
interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order!
Member, you have asked a detailed question without notice. The minister is
attempting to provide you with the best
response she can in the circumstances. Minister, you may want to provide the
remainder of the answer at a later stage, if that makes things easier.
Hon SUE ELLERY: If I can
give the member all that she wants now, I will; I have just got a note. Dampier
Primary School opens tomorrow. Was there any other element of the member's
question?
Hon Jacqui Boydell: For the
ones that remain closed, what's the plan?
Hon SUE ELLERY: It is
Dampier and Peg's Creek. The students from Dampier I think have been
offered an alternative at another school. Peg's Creek, I am not sure.
Like I said, if the member had given me notice, I would have been able to give
her an answer.