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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-06-16 Daily Xml
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Springbank Secondary College

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Treasurer, in his capacity as Treasurer and in his capacity as minister representing the Minister for Education, a question about the potential closure of Springbank Secondary College.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Submissions recently closed for the state government's review into the potential closure of Springbank Secondary College at Daw Park. The school, as we know, has a unique cohort of students, including 37 students in the disability unit and many more students on the autism spectrum within the broader mainstream student cohort. As we know, access to education is enshrined within the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a fundamental human right. In particular, article 23(3) of the convention states:

Recognizing the special needs of a disabled child, assistance…shall be designed to ensure that the disabled child has effective access to and receives education, training, health care services, rehabilitation services, preparation for employment and recreation opportunities in a manner conducive to the child's achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development, including his or her cultural and spiritual development.

The Mittiga family, whose son Jo Jo is on the autism spectrum, was accepted into Unley High School last year only to be told two days before the end of term 4 by the school's deputy principal, who called them to the school, 'We can't educate your son and we are extremely embarrassed.'

The Mittiga family—and I note Jo Jo's father is here today—was then referred to Springbank Secondary College, which told them it could cater for their son's special needs, and he commenced there shortly after. Jo Jo, for the record, is now thriving in a welcoming, inclusive and specialist school which invests the time and effort in giving children with a disability and children on the spectrum fair and equal treatment to their peers. So my questions to the Treasurer are:

1. What guarantees does the Mittiga family and other families of children with disabilities and on the autism spectrum have that the government will prioritise the needs of these children, pursuant to the article that I have referred to, over the economic considerations of the state in making its final determination about the future of Springbank college?

2. Has the Treasurer's department undertaken any valuation of the financial windfall the government would receive for the campus should it decide to sell the school to a commercial developer?

3. Can the government guarantee the Mittiga family that their son will not fall through the cracks should the Springbank Secondary College close?

4. Given the education minister has steadfastly refused to meet with anyone, including SA-Best's federal colleague Centre Alliance senator Senator Griff, prior to the completion of the review, will the Treasurer request of the Premier to extend the courtesy of meeting with the Mittiga family and other families who will be otherwise adversely impacted should the closure proceed?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:01): I have every confidence in the outstanding capacity of my outstanding ministerial colleague minister Gardner to ensure that every lawful obligation he is required to abide by is lawfully abided by. So I have every confidence in my ministerial colleague and I would ask the Hon. Ms Bonaros to accept the fact that my ministerial colleague is not only assiduous, hardworking and an excellent minister, but that he would ensure that any lawful obligation is dutifully followed.

In relation to handling this particular issue, I am sure I speak on behalf of the Premier, and I certainly speak on my behalf, I have every confidence in the minister's capacity to handle the issue in its entirety. If that requires considering submissions made by either individuals or stakeholders, or indeed other interested parties, I am sure he will give it appropriate consideration on the particular submission that might be made. But that's ultimately a judgement for each and every minister to make as to how they handle the particular issues.

In relation to whether Treasury has undertaken separate evaluations, my understanding is that that's not the case. These sorts of issues are handled by the departments and, in this case, it's the education department. Those sorts of issues, ultimately, would only come into consideration if and when a decision was made to close a school. Of course, that decision has not yet been taken because there is a review being conducted at the very moment into that particular issue.

Finally, as I said, not only am I confident that the minister would abide by every lawful obligation, I am sure he would do everything that is humanly possible to him as a minister, with his capacity to have the assistance of the department, to provide as much assistance to each and every student and his or her requirements within our schooling system.

As a former minister for education I am aware that some schools have capacity in certain areas and other schools have capacity in other areas. That doesn't mean those skill sets can't be offered in other school environments, in other school offerings. As the minister, there were any number of occasions where the particular needs of students with disability were catered for by additional resourcing into particular areas, districts or schools that might have had a particular focus or need for those students and their families.

I have confidence that the Minister for Education will give appropriate consideration to all the issues the honourable member has raised.

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