Division Description Changes — Bills — Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017; in Committee — 22nd Jun 2017

Change	Division
senate vote 2017-06-22#3 Edited by mackay staff on 2023-11-24 11:55:16	Title Bills — Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017; in Committee Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017 - in Committee - Limiting commitments Description ~~<p class="speaker">Richard Di Natale</p>~~ <p>I would like to direct a question to Senator Hanson, through you, Chair. Senator Hanson, I am interested in whether the issue of children with autism in schools was raised during your conversation with the minister? Your comments relating to children with autism needing to be in separate schools and not being able to get an education through the mainstream education system have generated much controversy today. I am interested to know whether you raised that issue at any time through your discussions with the minister during consideration on this education bill?</p> The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-06-22.221.1) introduced by South Australian Senator [Cory Bernardi](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/cory_bernardi) (Australian Conservatives), which means they failed. Senator Bernardi [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-06-22.221.1): *> The amendments I have proposed here are that the funding will be allocated in accordance with the government's own projections over the forward estimates—in fact, slightly further on than that because we are already into the first year. Basically, they say: 'Yes, the funding is there for the next four years. Then, if you want more funding to pursue it, come back to the parliamen*t and resubmit it again and have the discussion again about the best way forward.' ### Amendment text > Clause 2, page 2 (table item 4), omit "176", substitute "181". > > Schedule 1, page 37 (after line 26), at the end of the Schedule, add: > > Part 4—Limiting commitments > > 177 Subsections 67(2) and 69A(1) (note 2) > >> Repeal the note. > > 178 Subsections 112(3) to (5) > >> Omit "section 126", substitute "subsection 126(1)". > > 179 Section 126 > >> Before "The Consolidated Revenue Fund", insert "(1)". > > 180 Section 126 > >> After "for a year", insert "commencing before 1 January 2022". > *> 181 At** the end of section 126* > >> Add: >> *>> (2) Payments of financial assistance under this Act to a State or Territory for a year commencing** on or after 1 January 2022 are to be made out of money appropriated by the Parliament by another Act.* ~~<p class="speaker">Pauline Hanson</p>~~ <p>I am glad you have raised this, because I think you are totally misled. You are misinforming this parliament. I never said that children with autism would not be in normal, average schools. I said that they should actually have a special classroom. They should have a classroom where they actually have the special attention that they need with the teachers.</p> ~~<p class="italic">Senator Hanson-Young interjecting—</p>~~ <p>I have actually had a lot of comments from teachers who are contacting my office and are saying that it is clearly a problem in the classrooms that has not been addressed. Parents are also saying, 'It is a great idea and thank goodness someone has finally opened up the debate on this and actually wants to discuss it.' Anyway, we have had a lot of support today from people who believe this needs to be opened up for debate. All children deserve a decent education, and I think what the government has done in this bill to increase the funding for autism in schools is a wonderful idea. I believe it has gone from approximately $690 million up to $1.23 billion, so that is much appreciated, especially by Giant Steps—they are very appreciative of it. Giant Steps is a school for autistic children. Their parents had trouble getting them into schools and they did not fit into schools, and that is why Giant Steps has been started.</p> <p>There is another thing. I had a letter from a 15-year-old boy today, and he said: 'You are right in what you said. I went to a state school and I was bullied. I was not treated properly and I was left out of excursions, to the point I felt like I could die. It was not till mum found me a Catholic school for special kids that I then started to learn properly. I felt accepted and I went on excursions.'</p> <p>I think what is important is this: let's have the debate about it. There clearly is a problem. Because I raised an issue, you have mislead this parliament about what my true statements were. You were not interested—through the Chair. I do not believe the Greens or the Labor Party are interested in what I have to say. I think it has been political pointscoring. Parents and children have heard these comments. They have been taken completely out of context.</p> <p>Everyone deserves a decent education. As I said in part of my speech—I wish I had it here to say it word for word—if it were one of my children I would want them to have all the special needs and attention that they truly deserve. Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Look at the problems out there. Listen to what the people are saying. Listen to what the teachers are saying. Even the Queensland Teachers' Union admit there is a problem with autism in the classrooms—that teachers are not taught or qualified in how to handle this. That has to be addressed.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Richard Di Natale</p>~~ <p>Through you, Chair, I perhaps will explore the idea of 'special classrooms'. That is a new concept. I thought Senator Hanson was proposing that children with autism did not deserve an education through the mainstream education system, but we now have a concept of special classrooms. Was that issue of special classrooms within mainstream schools, or indeed the issue of ensuring that children did not go through the mainstream education system, raised at any time with the minister, Senator Hanson? Senator Hanson?</p> <p>The question that Senator Hanson has refused to address—indeed, today the minister refused to address—was whether the issue of children with autism attending mainstream schools was part of the negotiation over the education reforms. Senator Hanson, you have an opportunity to set the record straight here and make sure that you are straight with the Australian people. Was this part of your negotiations with the government?</p> ~~<p class='motion-notice motion-notice-truncated'>Long debate text truncated.</p>~~

~~Richard Di Natale~~
I would like to direct a question to Senator Hanson, through you, Chair. Senator Hanson, I am interested in whether the issue of children with autism in schools was raised during your conversation with the minister? Your comments relating to children with autism needing to be in separate schools and not being able to get an education through the mainstream education system have generated much controversy today. I am interested to know whether you raised that issue at any time through your discussions with the minister during consideration on this education bill?
The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-06-22.221.1) introduced by South Australian Senator [Cory Bernardi](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/cory_bernardi) (Australian Conservatives), which means they failed.
Senator Bernardi [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-06-22.221.1):
> *The amendments I have proposed here are that the funding will be allocated in accordance with the government's own projections over the forward estimates—in fact, slightly further on than that because we are already into the first year. Basically, they say: 'Yes, the funding is there for the next four years. Then, if you want more funding to pursue it, come back to the parliament and resubmit it again and have the discussion again about the best way forward.'*
### Amendment text
> *Clause 2, page 2 (table item 4), omit "176", substitute "181".*
>
> *Schedule 1, page 37 (after line 26), at the end of the Schedule, add:*
>
> *Part 4—Limiting commitments*
>
> *177 Subsections 67(2) and 69A(1) (note 2)*
>
>> *Repeal the note.*
>
> *178 Subsections 112(3) to (5)*
>
>> *Omit "section 126", substitute "subsection 126(1)".*
>
> *179 Section 126*
>
>> *Before "The Consolidated Revenue Fund", insert "(1)".*
>
> *180 Section 126*
>
>> *After "for a year", insert "commencing before 1 January 2022".*
>
> *181 At the end of section 126*
>
>> *Add:*
>>
>> *(2) Payments of financial assistance under this Act to a State or Territory for a year commencing on or after 1 January 2022 are to be made out of money appropriated by the Parliament by another Act.*
~~Pauline Hanson~~
I am glad you have raised this, because I think you are totally misled. You are misinforming this parliament. I never said that children with autism would not be in normal, average schools. I said that they should actually have a special classroom. They should have a classroom where they actually have the special attention that they need with the teachers.
~~Senator Hanson-Young interjecting—~~
I have actually had a lot of comments from teachers who are contacting my office and are saying that it is clearly a problem in the classrooms that has not been addressed. Parents are also saying, 'It is a great idea and thank goodness someone has finally opened up the debate on this and actually wants to discuss it.' Anyway, we have had a lot of support today from people who believe this needs to be opened up for debate. All children deserve a decent education, and I think what the government has done in this bill to increase the funding for autism in schools is a wonderful idea. I believe it has gone from approximately $690 million up to $1.23 billion, so that is much appreciated, especially by Giant Steps—they are very appreciative of it. Giant Steps is a school for autistic children. Their parents had trouble getting them into schools and they did not fit into schools, and that is why Giant Steps has been started.
There is another thing. I had a letter from a 15-year-old boy today, and he said: 'You are right in what you said. I went to a state school and I was bullied. I was not treated properly and I was left out of excursions, to the point I felt like I could die. It was not till mum found me a Catholic school for special kids that I then started to learn properly. I felt accepted and I went on excursions.'
I think what is important is this: let's have the debate about it. There clearly is a problem. Because I raised an issue, you have mislead this parliament about what my true statements were. You were not interested—through the Chair. I do not believe the Greens or the Labor Party are interested in what I have to say. I think it has been political pointscoring. Parents and children have heard these comments. They have been taken completely out of context.
Everyone deserves a decent education. As I said in part of my speech—I wish I had it here to say it word for word—if it were one of my children I would want them to have all the special needs and attention that they truly deserve. Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Look at the problems out there. Listen to what the people are saying. Listen to what the teachers are saying. Even the Queensland Teachers' Union admit there is a problem with autism in the classrooms—that teachers are not taught or qualified in how to handle this. That has to be addressed.
~~Richard Di Natale~~
Through you, Chair, I perhaps will explore the idea of 'special classrooms'. That is a new concept. I thought Senator Hanson was proposing that children with autism did not deserve an education through the mainstream education system, but we now have a concept of special classrooms. Was that issue of special classrooms within mainstream schools, or indeed the issue of ensuring that children did not go through the mainstream education system, raised at any time with the minister, Senator Hanson? Senator Hanson?
The question that Senator Hanson has refused to address—indeed, today the minister refused to address—was whether the issue of children with autism attending mainstream schools was part of the negotiation over the education reforms. Senator Hanson, you have an opportunity to set the record straight here and make sure that you are straight with the Australian people. Was this part of your negotiations with the government?
~~Long debate text truncated.~~