‘National consistency’: Palaszczuk punts phone ban issue to feds

Following criticism about Queensland not following other states in a school mobile phone ban, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she would support it if it was a ‘nationally consistent approach’.

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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is open to a mobile phone ban in Queensland schools – but she wants a nationally consistent approach.

Ms Palaszczuk said her Education Minister Grace Grace would be talking with her federal counterpart Jason Clare about the issue on Thursday.

It comes after Madonna King, who chaired the state government’s anti-cyberbullying taskforce, told The Courier-Mail she would “fight like hell” for a ban to be imposed.

“The Education Minister (Ms Grace) had a discussion with me this morning,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“She’s meeting with the federal Education Minister Jason Clare today and she very much wants to see some national consistency here.

“If we can have a national policy on this, of course Queensland will step up to the plate on this.”

The Premier also expressed concern about the amount of time children were spending on devices in general – not just at schools.

“I think we need fresh eyes over this issue,” Ms Palaszczuk said, as she ruled out reconvening the former anti-cyberbullying taskforce chaired by Ms King.

“Of course we will take into account the views of a lot of people. The majority of principals actually do ban them (phones).”

Education Minister Grace Grace has previously said a key reason not to follow other states in imposing the ban was because the State Government’s Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce, established five years ago in the wake of bullied teenager Dolly Everett’s death, did not support the move.

Ms Palaszczuk acknowledged there were reasons for children to have their phones at school, such as when their parents needed to contact them.

“Let’s remember too that the distribution and the snapchats and everything else that happens in between on these phones is not just happening during school classroom hours,” the Premier said.

“A lot of this is taking place after hours and it’s having a detrimental impact on a lot of our young people.”

Blanket mobile phone bans are already imposed in schools in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia – with NSW planning to do the same later this year.

In Queensland, school principals are left to decide whether to implement a mobile phone ban if they feel it is the best way forward.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks at a press conference. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Public schools to introduce bans recently include Corinda State High School, Cairns State High School, Upper Coomera State School and Pimpama State Secondary College.

Pimpama State Secondary College principal John Thornberry introduced the blanket ban in 2018 due to social media’s impact on students.

“There is a lack of empathy and students are unable to speak face-to-face, read body language and facial expressions,” Mr Thornberry told The Gold Coast Bulletin at the time.

At Ormeau Woods State High School, students can use phones before 8.30am, at lunch, and after 2.30pm but it must be switched off and out of sight during class.

Similarly, at the newly opened Mango Hill State Secondary College, all mobile phones must be switched off and out of sight while on college grounds unless under the direction of staff.