Cambridge Park High School Shooting Incident
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Training. Is the Minister aware of the recent incident that involved Jason James Cousins threatening a shooting spree at Sydney’s Cambridge Park High School? Is the Minister aware that the former student’s actions mirror those of the gunman at Jokela High School in Finland in that they both posted their threats on YouTube—and the latest posting was last Thursday? Will the Minister indicate what measures are currently in place in the State’s high schools to avoid a shooting massacre?
The Hon. John Della Bosca: This is obviously a most serious matter, not just because of the recent regrettable events in Finland but because sadly there is a substantial history of these kinds of incidents. I assure the House that all threats made against schools and school students in New South Wales during school time or after school hours are treated very seriously by New South Wales education authorities, the relevant principals and indeed by the New South Wales police. We are confident, based on police advice, that no students were at risk from the particular incident to which Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes referred. Nevertheless the Department of Education and Training worked with police and followed their advice at all stages to ensure that appropriate strategies were put in place to protect students just in case. There was no disruption to normal school activities as a result of the incident. The investigation carried out by police has resulted in an arrest being made, and the matter is now the subject of court proceedings. School staff, students and parents have been provided with information regarding the incident. I place on record my support for the actions taken by the principal, staff and the New South Wales police in this matter. As the matter is now before the courts I can give no further details in respect of the particular incident.