ACT Education Minister Chris Bourke “doesn’t know his own policy, or his own office” Opposition education spokesman Steve Doszpot said today.

He accused the minister of giving contradictory media statements about his own school safety policy and the contact he received from the parent of a child threatened with weapons at a Canberra high school,

“Chris Bourke and his Directorate last night told WIN News that weapon use is included in the current school policy, which is incorrect,” Mr Doszpot said.

“Weapon use is referred to in the 2007 policy, but not in the current version. I find it extremely worrying that the responsible Minister does not even know his own policy.

“In a further contradictory statement, Chris Bourke told ‘The Canberra Times’ that neither he nor his office received the parent’s correspondence, despite Senator Kate Lundy confirming to the paper that she had passed the parent’s correspondence on to his office.

“I met with the parent as soon as I received his email via the Liberal Party, as Chris Bourke should have done. How he was informed is irrelevant; it is his portfolio and constituent responsibility to meet with this parent and my understanding is that this still has not happened.

“This is a very serious case which Chris Bourke should have been treated with the upmost urgency. A student was threatened at an ACT Government school on four separate occasions with four different weapons and the Minister has treated the parent with complete disregard.”