Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

During a debate in the Federation Chamber last night, I moved a private member's motion relating to classroom behaviour, and I was discussing the Senate inquiry recommendations about giving teachers tools to deal with this. In that debate, I intimated that my experience has been informed by a number of factors including the fact that my mother was a high-school teacher in the state system for over 30 years. In an attack on my position, the member for Lalor, the Chief Government Whip, said:

If I have to hear from one more male member in this place about how they know about schools (a) because their mum was a teacher or (b) because they went to a school, well—as a profession, we'd like to be valued for the work we do …

I'm proud of my mother, her service, my relationship with her and its impact on my values and understanding of teachers in Australia, and the member's statement is an anathema to the kind of gentler parliament we seek.

Government members interjecting—

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