1. You tell me if this makes sense. Two years ago a 14-year-old student set off a lithium bomb in a toilet block at Rossmoyne Senior High School. That action and what the director general of education described as other “unusual behaviour” led the school to refer the young man, known as James, to police. He was placed on a watch list, referred to Australian Federal Police and was enrolled in a national de-radicalisation program. He had been radicalised and was on a pathway to Islamic extremism. Yet despite all of that, the education department allowed a prayer room to be set up and used by the young man at school, during school hours. I’ll say it again, the kid had been radicalised, and he was given access to a prayer room. What was James doing in there and what influence was he having on other students? And how could anyone have thought that was a good idea?
2. You might think the tragic and disturbing circumstances of the last week would be the Education Minister’s sole focus, but no, not for Minister Buti. Somehow he managed to move on from the events referred to above with breath taking speed and used Parliament to continue his ill-advised attacks on the City of Perth for not falling at his feet over the land for an East Perth Primary School. You sure this is the week, Minister?
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