PETITION: WHO INFORMED THE PREMIER — AND WAS PROPER PROCESS FOLLOWED?

A public call for transparency, accountability and fair treatment of Tasmania’s schools

We call on Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Education Minister Jo Palmer to provide a clear account of how the controversy involving Trevallyn Primary School’s end-of-year celebrations arose, how it was handled, and whether established complaints procedures were followed.

The Premier publicly stated that he had asked the Education Department to intervene after being informed that references to Christmas were being removed from school celebrations.

However, public reporting indicates that Christmas carols and other Christmas-themed activities would remain part of the school’s end-of-year event. The Tasmanian Principals Association has also questioned whether normal complaints procedures were followed.

This raises important questions about how information was checked, how concerns were escalated, and whether the school was given a fair opportunity to respond before the matter became a public controversy.

We are asking for answers, not political point-scoring.

We call on Premier Jeremy Rockliff to:

1. Release relevant records, with legitimate personal information redacted, showing how the complaint reached his office and what information was provided.
2. Explain what checks were undertaken to establish the facts before he contacted the Education Department and made public statements.
3. Release relevant communications between his office and the Department concerning the matter, subject to lawful privacy and other exemptions.
4. Clarify the factual basis for his public statements and correct any claims shown to be inaccurate

We call on Education Minister Jo Palmer to:

1. Commission an independent examination of how the complaint was received, escalated and handled, including whether established complaints procedures were followed.
2. Establish whether the school was given a fair opportunity to explain its decisions before the matter was escalated publicly.
3. Explain the Minister’s and Department’s respective roles, including when they became aware of the matter and what actions they took.
4. Identify any safeguards needed to ensure complaints about schools are investigated fairly and accurately, without unnecessary political escalation.
5. Publish the findings and any recommendations, while protecting the privacy of students, families and staff.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Parents must be able to raise concerns about schools. Schools must be able to respond fairly. Ministers must be able to intervene when necessary. The public should be able to understand the facts and the process behind consequential decisions.

We need to know whether public power was exercised responsibly and whether proper procedures were followed.

By signing this petition, I support a transparent, independent examination of how this matter was handled.