Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) has committed to ensuring there are Eureka Flags in every school in Queensland in solidarity with the CFMEU;

(b) expresses its disgust at the politicisation of education in Queensland by having the QTU attempt to influence students politically;

(c) further notes that it is, and reiterates support for, the long observed bi-partisan position that Australian school children should be given the freedom to develop and evolve in an environment that is free from the intrusion of any particular political bias;

(d) calls upon the QTU to desist from this unacceptable attempt to politicise classrooms; and

(e) commends the LNP for committing to keeping schools a place for learning rather than politics.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a sticker. It's not a flag; it's a sticker. It's a sticker of the Eureka flag. It's the size of a business card or the size of a bumper sticker, and teachers have been displaying union information in classrooms for years. They've been doing it appropriately, and they will continue to do it appropriately. If only Senator Macdonald showed as much care about the cuts in funding to Queensland schools as he does to this, the Queensland kids would be so much better off.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 737 be agreed to.