Schoolgirl Assault

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:41): Back in February, South Australians were shocked and disturbed by a video posted on social media of the brutal bashing of a 13-year-old Adelaide school student named Maddy by two other girls at her school. Maddy suffered horrendous injuries that required hospitalisation for facial surgery to her damaged jaw and teeth. She now has to have extensive endodontist dental treatments for the next five years to ensure she is able to have three, possibly four, dental implants fitted.

There was the expected outpouring of rage from our community in the media and, of course, the obligatory late reaction from the education minister, the Hon. John Gardner, and his department. I am bewildered and disappointed to report that the minister, his department and the school have badly failed Maddy. When firm and decisive action was needed, their appalling lack of inaction sends a poor message to our community about the tolerance level of bullying in our school system, which is endemic.

One of the bullies who attacked Maddy has since pleaded guilty to the assault in the Adelaide Youth Court. However, this matter is far from over. Maddy is unable to attend school. Today, I received an alarming email from Maddy's mother. Let me read some of it, and I quote:

I write to you out of complete desperation and exhaustion.

The people who filmed the assault are still at school without consequence, the large group who went with the attackers are still at school without consequence, the other kids in the group who made threats of beatings are still at school without consequence—despite us bringing it to the school's attention the day before the attack.

My child was entitled to a safe education and that was her right. The school told me she would be safe. They knew exactly what these kids were capable of and they ignored the threats. Where does my child go to school now if she can't return.

Her letter continues, but you get her concerns. Yesterday, on Leon Byner's FIVEaa radio program, former DPP Stephen Pallaras QC said he was in disbelief when he learned of Maddy's plight from her mother. He also said the school had called her a few times but had not offered or given counselling to Maddy and her family, even though it had been requested. The school also refuses to communicate in writing. The education department? Well, it has not made any contact whatsoever. Why not, I ask?

The local federal member, Tony Zappia, and local state member, Dana Wortley, have written to the minister. No response. Appalling but not surprising. Federal Liberal Senator Alex Antic also promised to get answers from the minister. Again, nothing. Respected psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg believes Maddy appears to have been victimised twice—once by the school bullies and then by the inept system that should be protecting her, ensuring her education continues unhindered in a safe environment. I am totally disgusted at the manner in which this has been handled, and our community should be horrified.

Last year, we passed Mr Gardner's Education and Children's Services Act, which gives schools and the department wideranging powers to deal with these types of obnoxious and antisocial behaviours. Among them, a school can move a child to another if there are concerns about the health, welfare and safety of students and staff. Clearly, this has not happened.

Principals can also exclude students for the rest of the school term if the principal believes there are reasonable grounds that a student has threatened or perpetrated violence. The principal can also expel a student in instances like this. Has this happened? No. Remember, one student has pleaded guilty to the assault. The department and schools have a responsibility in ensuring the safety and welfare of students who go to school every day. This is not happening.

I suspect they are afraid or intimidated because there is also a race issue here, as the bullies are Aboriginal. Race or colour should not be an issue. Last night, I bumped into minister Gardner as he was leaving parliament. He had no idea this matter had been widely discussed on the leading radio program in its timeslot and heard across the state.

The minister needs to take a good, hard look at himself and his department and question his highly paid advisers about the way this has been mishandled. They might consider this a one-off type of incident, but it is not because they continue to happen and are mismanaged. In the meantime, Maddy faces ongoing medical costs and psychological issues. Who is going to meet them?