Media Release

Education authorities must be held accountable for the failure to protect a Cairns Year 8 student from bullying that culminated in a broken leg, said KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter.

Mr Katter said he had received a “sickening” complaint from a parent that the student’s leg was broken during what authorities described as “a scuffle” during “a lockdown” at an outer-Cairns school last week.

Mr Katter has demanded the State Government take action over authorities’ failure to protect the child from a sustained campaign of bullying.

“We are advised that numerous complaints had been made by parents, and the failure of the school in any way to protect the student involved is a matter of serious concern,” said Mr Katter.

“We have written to the Minister regarding the responsibility to act in this matter, clearly a serious case of bullying, and the actions taken have fallen short of the serious nature.

“The authorities have a duty of care, and if they breach it there must be penalties.

“There’s no other way of getting the message out. Action needs to be taken.

“We want to know why no action has been taken and we will be pursuing the matter until the incident has been reviewed.”