House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Coober Pedy Area School Principal COOBER PEDY AREA SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Mr PISONI House of Assembly Unley COOBER PEDY AREA SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:20): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain why the principal of the Coober Pedy Area School, who has been removed from her position, can be formally reprimanded and judged liable for disciplinary action by the Chief Executive of the Department of Education and Children's Services for minor altercations, in difficult circumstances, without the use of four letter words, as disgraceful and improper conduct, yet when the Treasurer, as acting premier, recently rang the night editor of the Sunday Mail and gave free rein to an extended barrage of abuse, including 'f' and 'c' words, there were no disciplinary consequences whatsoever? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly Cheltenham Minister for Education Minister for Early Childhood Development COOBER PEDY AREA SCHOOL PRINCIPAL The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Education, Minister for Early Childhood Development) (15:20): That is a typically smart alec question from the much loved member for Unley, the man who does not have a friend, I do not think, on either side of the house. An honourable member interjecting: The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That is right. It proceeds from a false premise. The decision that was taken in respect of the principal at Coober Pedy was really in two parts. The first concerned disciplinary action, which led to a reprimand, and the reprimand concerned circumstances that arose within the context of the school. The actual transfer of the principal was unrelated to the disciplinary action and related to the general source of division and discontent within the school community. The Director-General of Education reached the conscientious decision that the education of the children of Coober Pedy would not be advanced if that principal continued in that role. So, that is the reason why she was transferred; quite unconnected from the disciplinary action. Arrangements and negotiations are occurring about an appropriate transfer for that teacher. There is no suggestion that she cannot continue to play an appropriate role within the education system, but in the particular circumstances of the Coober Pedy community it was considered inappropriate for that— Mr PISONI House of Assembly Mr PISONI: I rise on a point of order. This question was directed to the Premier because it is about the Premier's integrity and standards. This question did not suggest, for one minute, that the principal of Coober Pedy was moved because of the disciplinary action, but she did face disciplinary action for those actions. An honourable member interjecting: Mr PISONI House of Assembly Mr PISONI: You should listen; that is what you should do. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Is this a point of order or a debate across the floor? What is your point of order, member for Unley? Mr PISONI House of Assembly Mr PISONI: My point of order is that the question is not relevant. It was directed at the Premier— The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order, Minister for Industry and Trade! There is no standing order about who should answer a question. The minister was comparing the situations.