The ACT deputy chief minister's teenage son has been suspended from high school after getting in a fight in recent days, the minister has revealed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Yvette Berry, who also holds ministerial responsibility for education, fronted the cameras on Friday afternoon to reveal her 15-year-old son was suspended after the fight outside school hours.
But she said she took several steps to prevent any perceived conflicts of interest over the matter, given her ministerial role.
It comes as Ms Berry prepares to face a Legislative Assembly committee inquiry into violence in Canberra's schools, fights of which have been filmed and published by some teenagers on social media.
Ms Berry would not answer questions, but made a statement outlining that she was contacted by her son's school earlier this week with news of the immediate suspension.
She said while she still did not know the precise details of what happened, she wanted to tell the public that violence of any type was unacceptable and she was deeply sorry for what occurred.
Ms Berry also said she had already taken steps to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest, including ensuring her son's father was the family's contact on the matter, rather than her.
She said since being told of the suspension, she had had no more contact with the school or directorate about it, though, through her chief of staff, had informed Chief Minister Andrew Barr, the Director-General and deputy of the Education directorate.
Ms Berry also said she had told the Assembly's Ethics and Integrity Advisor Stephen Skehill about her actions to date, who had said she had acted appropriately in the circumstances.
