Sarra denies assault
13.07.2004



QUEENSLANDER of the Year, high-profile indigenous school principal Chris Sarra, said yesterday he would strenuously defend allegations he physically abused students.
Queensland Education Minister Anna Bligh confirmed she had been briefed on the issue and Education Department executive director Cecily Anderson was interviewing the mother of a complainant yesterday as well as Mr Sarra.
The acclaimed teacher has been principal of the Cherbourg Aboriginal community school, 250km northwest of Brisbane, since August 1999.
A group of women elders recently formed the Cherbourg Critical Incident Group and directly confronted politicians at the February Queensland election over allegations of abuse of children. Last week the women wrote to Premier Peter Beattie.
Mr Sarra said yesterday: ``I have had to respond to some extreme behaviours, and I have physically restrained children, but I completely reject these allegations of physical assault.
``When children exhibit extreme behaviour, I growl at them, which is the Aboriginal way. These parents have a right to raise their concerns and have them investigated.''
Ms Bligh said police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission had handed the investigation back to Education Queensland because they did not consider there was any ``criminal conduct''.
``This is being handled in the appropriate manner,'' she said.
``Mr Sarra is alleged to have grabbed and held children -- grabbed by the wrist, the back of the neck, or held by a shirt-front against a wall -- when behaviour is extreme.
``The allegations of bodgying exam results cannot be sustained because they are conducted by the Queensland Studies Authority, which is an external body.
``This school has achieved a great deal under Mr Sarra's leadership, but he is entitled to natural justice and that is the process that is going on.''