SCHOOL DRUG AID DELAYED

HIDDEN cameras in a high school toilet filmed students shooting up heroin
for several weeks before the teenagers were offered help, a tribunal has
heard.

School officials had not discussed the possibility of an overdose when they
let police take over the secret surveillance, the Civil and Administrative
Appeals Tribunal has been told.

Details of the toilet drug bust at Glen Eira Secondary College were
revealed on Friday in a freedom of information appeal. The South Caulfield
school made headlines last year after the secret video in the boys' toilets
led to 11 expulsions and several court appearances.

Opposition education spokesman Bruce Mildenhall wants a series of
hand-written notes taken by the Education Department's southern region
assistant general manager, Mr Greg Gibbs.

In the witness box, Mr Gibbs admitted the use of surveillance cameras went
against the government's drug policy, Turning the Tide. He agreed the
students' health and safety was not considered until the police operation
was finished.

"What if there was an overdose?" Mr Mildenhall's counsel, Mr Lachlan
Carter, asked Mr Gibbs.

"We did not discuss that sort of an issue," Mr Gibbs replied.

Describing the event as a crisis, Mr Gibbs said he was concerned by the use
of surveillance cameras in toilets.

He said the hidden camera operated from April 7 to 11, stopping for a
two-week school holiday and restarting on April 28.

Mr Gibbs said school officials set up the camera, but contacted police on
April 29 after seeing evidence of drug use, vandalism and handling stolen
goods.

He said police took over the surveillance equipment from May 2, collecting
evidence over several days.

Mr Gibbs said education officials understood the need for secrecy until the
police had collected sufficient evidence.

But Mr Mildenhall told the tribunal the welfare of students was threatened
because the school allowed the drug use to continue and that several
parents were outraged by the lack of privacy and consultation.

"Were the health and safety needs of the students the upmost consideration,
or was it just a crisis management exercise to minimise controversy?" Mr
Mildenhall asked. "Were there any thoughts about the rights of the students?

"The authorities were aware of heroin and marijuana trafficking and use ...
before anything was done in relation to health and welfare."

The notes sought by Mr Mildenhall were described as "cryptic scribble",
covering Mr Gibbs' telephone conversations with police and bureaucrats.

Mr Gibbs said his notes could be embarrassing for the school, and cause
dropping enrolments, if the details were taken out of context.

Department counsel Stephen O'Bryan argued the notes would "confuse, mislead
and perhaps embarrass" the school community.

But Mr Mildenhall believed the notes contained important details on the
handling of the case. He has been fighting for information about the drugs
case for the past 18 months.

Tribunal deputy-president Michael McNamara is expected to hand down his
finding this month.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan