Australian Politics
Australians greet their King
With her puffed sleeves, golden sandals and nervous grimace, Georgina Box launched their majesties’ first working day in Australia with a deep, perfectly executed curtsy.
The four-year-old ballerina had rehearsed in her room for days, and kept working on it until showtime on Sunday. “The kids’ church leaders said they’d been waiting for 20 minutes, and she was practising for that 20 minutes,” said her mother, Laura.
Neither King Charles III, Queen Camilla, nor Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel could hold back a smile as the perky preschooler bobbed to them in the vestibule of St Thomas’ Church.
The little girl set the tone for the royal couple’s reception in Sydney, which was just like the weather that greeted them as they woke at their harbourside residence on Sunday morning: sunny, with an occasional chill in the air.
Australians might be ambivalent about the monarchy and the role it should play in the country’s future but after a hard year, many enjoyed the distraction of royal pomp in their backyard.
There were a few hundred people hoping to catch a glimpse of the monarch outside St Thomas’ Church after the service, and another few hundred outside NSW Parliament House, which the King visited alone to mark the bicentenary of the Legislative Council.
Each venue could have accommodated many more, but those who came were enthusiastic. There was Melburnian Lynton Martin, who wore a jacket covered in Union Jacks and a brooch reading “Long Live the King”.
There was Elizabeth Kenny, who went royal spotting on her birthday and was rewarded by a brief meeting that left her shaking. There were Magali Latchoumanin and her daughter, Sunny, 11, who travelled 15 hours from a French-speaking island near South Africa to be part of history.
A small group of protesters also gathered outside the church, identifying themselves as First Nations Resistance. They held up a banner saying “DECOLONISE”, and exchanged barbs with royal supporters.
At the church, no one mentioned the elephant in the room, that the Sydney Anglican Archdiocese has all but split with the Church of England, of which the King is the supreme governor, over conservative Sydney’s view that the Britons are not orthodox enough.
Earlier this year, Raffel described the Church of England’s decision to allow blessings of same-sex couples as “a grievous abrogation of its responsibility to uphold the primacy of scripture in the life and ministry of the church”.
At Parliament House, MPs were star-struck, too, as King Charles popped into a lunch for the 200th birthday of the Legislative Council, staying only briefly to deliver a speech, gift them an hourglass, and make a joke about his age (he “first came to Australia nearly 60 years ago, which was slightly worrying”).
Many held up their phones to film the entrance of the monarch, who was announced to the sound of NSW Police trumpeters as the King of Australia (a lone voice responded with a shout of “hooray”; in response to the hooray, another lone voice laughed).
To the MPs for Vaucluse (Kellie Sloane) and Manly (James Griffin), he extolled the virtues of Bondi Beach. “He asked if Bondi was as amazing as it has always been,” Sloane said.
MPs from both sides of politics described it as a memorable event. Even some of the Greens were there, said one. “We may all be pro-republic, but acknowledge this is a very special occasion for the parliament, and we want to be a part of it,” said one Labor MP on the condition of anonymity, so they could speak freely.
A National Party MP, speaking on the same condition, said it was “a really special day … all MPs were saying this morning that it’s a rare occasion to have a reigning monarch address us, so everyone has been very excited”.
The King greeted well-wishers outside parliament, too. Sasha Barrass, 13, was among them. “He has a firm handshake,” she said. “I said hello to him, and he said hello back, and then my mum said, “Long live Your Majesty”, and my dad said he hopes the King is well, and he said how everyone is very kind.
“I’m really excited and will treasure this moment for the rest of my life.”
After an audience with Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the royal duties were complete. It was a short day by royal standards, but a longer than usual one for the King since his cancer diagnosis.
On Monday, the royal couple will visit federal parliament and the War Memorial in Canberra, before returning to Sydney on Tuesday and flying to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Wednesday.
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Methodist Ladies College students forced to remove their 'cross' over fears they will offend
Girls at a prestigious church-founded private school claim they've been ordered to take off Christian crosses because they offend classmates.
Year 12 students at Melbourne's Methodist Ladies College (MLC) in the affluent eastern suburb of Kew claim that students are allowed to wear furry ears, tails and rainbow-themed pride items but not crosses signalling their Christian faith.
An unnamed student told the Herald Sun that the school was practising 'religious discrimination' because teachers were asking those who had them as jewellery to take them off when other students complain they are offensive to non-Christians'.
'My friend was wearing a cross and there was another girl in our class who said she found the cross really offensive and so the teacher told her to take it off,' she told the publication.
'My friend's parents, who are very religious, tried to get answers from the school and were told 'it's not a good look for the school'.
'This is supposed to be a religious school but they are listening to minority opinion rather than mainstream religious students.'
Students who wear Christian crosses have reportedly asked put them on longer chain so they are not visible, but students says they are being told to take them off.
Methodist Ladies College, which charges close to $39,000 in fees for a Year 12 student and an extra 36,000 to board, has strict uniform requirements and does not allow make-up, jewellery or untied long hair.
The school is also very strict on inappropriate dress lengths and non-approved clothing.
A school spokesperson told the Herald Sun they were 'deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and diversity'.
'Our Christian heritage serves as a foundation for welcoming individuals of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, fostering an environment where every student is supported in expressing their identity and beliefs,' the spokesperson said.
'Regarding religious jewellery, such as cross necklaces, the College's uniform policy supports consistent presentation among students while respecting individual beliefs.
Parents pay thousands in school fees for their daughters to attend Methodist Ladies College
'We apply all policies with care and sensitivity, ensuring that individual beliefs are respected while supporting our shared identity through the MLC uniform.'
In August 2022, it was reported a year eight student attending a private girls' school in Melbourne was being allowed to 'identify as a cat'.
'No one seems to have a protocol for students identifying as animals, but the approach has been that if it doesn't disrupt the school, everyone is being supportive,' a source close to the family told the Herald Sun.
The school did not confirm this but said they were 'dealing with a range of psychological issues'.
In a statement, the school said students were presenting 'with a range of issues, from mental health, anxiety or identity issues'.
'As a non-denominational and multicultural college, we value diversity and broad expressions of achievement,' the school website states.
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Big demand for State selective schools
More than 200 parents a year try to convince the Education Department their child deserves a place in a selective school despite failing to meet the increasingly high entry standard.
Analysts say the proliferation of tutoring and coaching colleges is giving parents false hope and misguided notions about how talented their child is.
The department does not accept appeals if they are based on grounds that should be made through the illness and misadventure process. They can, however, include “what happened to prevent your child from doing his or her best” in the test and supply evidence to support their bid. Parents can also pay $40 to have the writing section remarked, but appeals to remark multiple choice responses are not accepted by the department.
This year, 279 parents have so far requested a review of the outcome for the selective skills test, up from 246 results that were challenged by parents last year. Of those, only eight had their outcome changed.
Competition for selective schools has grown sharply, with more than 18,500 children applying for 4200 spots in fully or partially selective schools for entry next year.
Australian Tutoring Association chief executive Mohan Dhall said the promises made by coaching colleges were leaving parents with unrealistic expectations of gaining entry.
“You have parents who are vulnerable because there are a limited number of places in a highly competitive system and businesses who present themselves as authorities,” he said.
“They call themselves the selective school experts. They amplify it by saying things like: ‘90 per cent of our students got into these schools’. I can understand why vulnerable parents might think, ‘I trust these people more than the Department of Education’.
Coaching colleges target selective students and ‘undermine’ HSC
“With only 3 per cent of students successfully getting a variation in outcome – it says parents should accept the mark they’re given and not query the department. Instead, they should query the commercial coaching colleges.”
Unlike regular public high schools, selective high schools do not have catchments and some students travel two hours to get there. That includes students from Sydney catching the train to get to selective school Gosford High on the Central Coast.
Central Coast Council of P&Cs president Sharryn Brownlee said parents met earlier in the year to discuss the issue of local children being unable to go to Gosford High.
“The reason the meeting was held was because of the population growth on the Central Coast since the pandemic and that the local children are denied the opportunity to go there,” she said.
“We are calling for the Department of Education to have a realistic catchment so students do not spend their whole time commuting,” Brownlee said.
She also said travelling for hours on the train each day was not fair on students who were disconnected from the local school community.
University of NSW gifted education expert Professor Jae Jung said the department should consider adding more places in selective schools in some circumstances.
“If it is obvious that gifted students cannot access a selective school in some areas due to population growth, and this is reflected in a substantial increase to the number of applications to selective schools in these areas, the department should consider increasing the number of places at selective schools,” he said.
“I think that’s a responsible thing to do. There continues to be a huge demand for selective schools, and they play an important role in supporting many gifted students.”
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Katter's Australian Party candidates campaign for corporal punishment
The Katter's Australian Party (KAP) is calling for a return to physical discipline such as the cane as the party seeks to increase its vote share in Queensland Parliament.
The conservative-leaning party holds four seats in the north of the state and is campaigning on a tough-on-crime policy ahead of the October 26 election.
In a video posted to Facebook, KAP candidate for Townsville Margie Ryder asked followers if they knew anyone whose parents had disciplined them with a jug cord.
"Well, I do, and he turned out wonderful. So good I married him," Ms Ryder said. "The fact of the matter is parents have lost their rights to discipline their children. "Some kids need a smack, a kick up the arse, a ruler or even a hug."
The former Townsville City councillor, who lost her seat at the March 26 local election, went on to say she had met a mother who had been reported to the Department of Child Safety for giving her 14-year-old daughter "a kick up the arse".
Reuben Richardson, the KAP candidate for the seat of Thuringowa based in Townsville's northern suburbs, posted a video with a similar message.
"When I was young there was a healthy fear of doing the wrong thing. You never wanted to go to the principal's office as the cane was always in the back of your mind," Mr Richardson said.
"Did student behaviour deteriorate when we got rid of the cane?"
The cane, wooden spoon, belts, and other threats such as the cord from the kitchen jug were used against children in homes and schools last century.
Corporal punishment was abolished in Queensland state schools in 1995.
It remains lawful under the Criminal Code for Queensland parents to use "reasonable" physical punishment to discipline their children.
When asked if he condoned the use of the jug cord or the cane on children, party leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said: "I condone parents doing whatever they have to do to discipline their kids."
"That can come in any form, you can throw all sorts of examples, you can say a samurai sword, look I don't know.
"I'm not prepared to say what is good and what is bad."
Mr Katter said the corporal punishment policy was borne out of youth crime issues and feedback from First Nations communities.
"Most of the elders in the community will tell you: 'We lost control a long time ago when we lost the right to smack our kids'," he said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders have rejected claims the policy is coming from the grassroots community.
Townsville youth intervention program manager and elder Aunty Irene Leard said she worked with five traditional owner groups and rejected suggestions Indigenous communities wanted a return to corporal punishment.
"The cane, the jug cord, the belt, that is going to cause more issues because you're introducing violence to these young people," Aunty Irene said.
"Back in the day I got the belt, but we're a different society now. It is not going to work.
"You're actually setting the scene, again, for generations to hit kids whenever they feel frustration."
'Irresponsible' policy
University of Queensland associate professor in social sciences Renee Zahnow said videos promoting corporal punishment were irresponsible and could encourage a "small minority" of parents who take punishment too far.
"We have a responsibility to young people and it is not to teach them through physical abuse," Dr Zahnow said.
She said hurting children teaches them that violence is acceptable and it can cause long-term mental health issues.
KAP member for Mirani Stephen Andrew said he wanted the government to consider returning corporal punishment to Queensland state schools.
Candidates for Cook and Mulgrave, police officer Duane Amos and high school teacher Steven Lesina, also pledged their support for physical discipline.
What is allowed in Queensland?
Most non-government schools across Australia banned corporal punishment more than two decades ago.
Independent Schools Queensland said corporal punishment was not used in the sector.
Mr Katter said the government should not have any say in domestic discipline.
"With words like 'reasonableness' there is an element of subjectivity," he said.
"It's not for the government to prescribe how [parents] should be disciplining their kids.
"They don't need to be double-thinking that they could be reported to child safety."
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Evelyn Rae, a conservative Australian political commentator
Margo Robbie -- a beautiful australian
My son Joe at ANU
One of the happiest pictures ever -- Cleo Smith, aged 4
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