Special Needs Case to be heard on 12/13 November

- Human Rights Commission to Join Parents in Court -

2 Days (12th and 13th of November) have been set aside by the Court of Appeal to hear the government's appeal against the High Court decision in favour of parents of children with special needs.

The original case was taken by 14 parents as a test case on behalf of many thousands of children with special education needs whose education has suffered under the new government policy Special Education 2000. QPEC has co-ordinated the case on behalf of the parents.

The case was heard in the High Court late last year and the decision released in April this year.

Rather than accept the High Court judgement and solve the problems the government decided to prolong the injustice and appeal the decision.

It is deeply disappointing that the case had to go to court in the first place but the intransigence of the government made no other course possible. Whatever the outcome of the case the government must still resolve the serious problems faced by parents and children with special education needs.

The Human Rights Commission has joined the parents in a cross appeal against one aspect of the original High Court judgement. The judgement said although the government had breached Section 9 of the Education Act 1989 they had not breached the discrimination provisions of the Human Rights Act - a point disputed by the Human Rights Commission.

QPEC has so far raised approximately $6000 towards the $10,000 cost to successfully defend the case. Donations, no matter how modest, would be gratefully received.

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