Home
About MAKO
Services
Contact
Prevention
MAKO/Files
Community Notification
Report
Referral
Profile's
Facts/ Stats
Online Dangers
Child Safety
MAKO Petitions
Research/ Resources
Books
DNA Info
Safety For Women
News/ Articles
Your Comments
Australian Politicians/ Contacts
Join
Sponsors
Donations
Links
|
A SCHOOL principal has vowed to join his staff if they strike in support of a teacher dumped under a controversial Victorian government sex law. The zero-tolerance law requires dismissal for teachers found guilty of child sex offences. The law forced the resignation of Andrew Phillips, 33, from Orbost Secondary College after a records check found he pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a minor in 1992. Today, teachers at the school will meet Australian Education Union Victorian president Mary Bluett to discuss industrial action in a bid to have Mr Phillips reinstated. Principal John Brazier vowed to join the teachers if they all walk off the job. "Absolutely, of course I would. If they go, I'll go with them," he said. "I have also got the kids to look after, too. If there was only a small number (of teachers striking) I suppose I still have a responsibility to the students, but I would certainly like to go with them." Mr Brazier said he expected a delegation of about four teachers would travel to Melbourne to seek a meeting with Education and Training Minister Lynne Kosky. "The main beef is this: how can you punish a man twice for an offence that he committed back in 1992, a minor offence," he said. "He (Mr Phillips) was punished then and we have punished him a second time 13 years later." Mr Brazier said he supported the original intention of the legislation, but it should be amended to allow for discretion to be exercised in unusual situations. "If legislation is retrospective without an exemption clause it's very dangerous," he said. Mr Brazier has received almost 400 letters, emails and phone calls from across the state supporting Mr Phillips. "I haven't had one person in the community who has spoken up in favour of the legislation – not one," he said. "The support for the man is amazing." After Mr Phillips' departure, students at the school had relied on notes from distance education, teachers volunteering their spare periods and temporary relief teachers. He said it was hard to attract a replacement for the position in Orbost but he hoped to have a permanent replacement for Mr Phillips by the start of next term. The incident for which Mr Phillips was ousted involved him touching the breasts of a girl with whom he was having a relationship when he was 20 and not a teacher. The girl was 15 years and 10 months old, the touching was consensual and the complaint was made by a third party. Mr Phillips, who received a good behaviour bond and no recorded conviction, volunteered information about the case when he was employed by the education department. A spokesman for Education Minister Lynne Kosky said any strike action would be regrettable. "The only people at the end of the day that affects are students. "The Government's not going to change its position, so at the end of the day it will have achieved nothing. It'll mean students won't be educated for however long they decide to take the strike action and it won't achieve anything." The spokesman would not comment on the possibility of any disciplinary action for striking teachers and the principal, Mr Brazier. "Can't comment on that at the moment, it hasn't even gone to the vote at the moment." He said Ms Kosky had not been asked to meet the delegation of teachers from Orbost. "We haven't been approached yet asking for a meeting. But once again it would achieve nothing. The Government's position is known and we won't be changing that position. AAP (31-3-2005) |
Australian News
About Child Pornography
2005. All Rights Reserved.
Legal/Disclaimer/
Privacy/
Terms Of Use.