Schoolgirl assault outrage

THE punishment handed down to a Montrose Bay student after she punched a 13year-old girl more than 10 times has been labelled “outrageous” by angry parents.

The Mercury was told the victim was walking home from school last Friday when she was repeatedly punched in the face and thrown on to the main road in front of oncoming traffic. Parents of a witness said the incident was

“completely random” and unprovoked, with a group of students surrounding the victim on scooters and filming the incident on their phones.

They said a Year 9 girl told the school principal she committed the assault, apologised and receiving five days’ suspension from Tuesday.

But one mother said the parents of witnesses agreed they would not accept any punishment other than expulsion.

“It’s outrageous that they still have to be at school with this person,” she said.

“She’s really violent and needs to be sent to another school and be given all the tools like counselling that she needs.”

She said her children were warned at the start of the year bullying would see them suspended, and laying hands on other children would see them expelled.

Another parent said the victim was lucky to avoid serious injury and questioned why the attacker was being “protected”.

“We’re absolutely outraged, we’re considering leaving [the school],” he said.

The Mercury contacted the victim’s mother, who said her daughter was “still recovering mentally and emotionally”.

“She has been a bit unwilling to go to school and doesn’t know what to expect,” the mother said.

“We’re not happy with the suspension.

“More needs to be done from the Department of Education and Montrose Bay High School.”

A Department of Education spokesman said the school was offering support to impacted students and said the suspension complied with the Department’s Respectful Student Behaviour Policy.

“All allegations of inappropriate behaviour in schools are taken very seriously and immediately investigated,” he said.

“Given this incident did not occur on school grounds, parents have been encouraged to report the matter to the appropriate authority, which in this case is the Tasmania Police.”

The school recovered and forwarded footage of the assault later on Tuesday to Tasmania Police.

Police confirmed they were still investigating the incident.

Witnesses or people with information or vision are asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.