Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has offered his take on a Perth student’s bizarre canteen ban, saying: “Give the kid some lunch.”
Jaxon, a Year 6 student, has been blocked from ordering snacks and meals from Hocking Primary School’s tuck shop for more than a year over a spat between his mother and the parents and citizen (P&C) group.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Perth student banned from canteen over bizarre fight.
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Speaking on Friday, Albanese said cooler heads should prevail and the year-long ban should be terminated.
“Give the kid some lunch. Seriously. The kid shouldn’t be caught up in this argument,” Albanese said.
“He is 11 years old. A bit of commonsense should apply here and I think it will.”
Canteen volunteers received a rude email from Jaxon’s mum Natalie Durer, accusing them of incompetence and forgetting his lunch order.
Durer said the ban that followed her note left her son feeling left out because he can’t order a toastie with his friends.
He has also been banned from buying treats at school sporting events and carnivals.
Durer acknowledged she was out of line but the P&C, which runs the canteen independently of the school, said the ban would continue because it is obligated to provide a safe work environment, The West Australian reported.
The Education Department has tried to mediate but 12 months on, Jaxon is still unable to order his lunch.
While highlighting the importance of P&Cs, WA Education Minister Tony Buti said the “ridiculous” situation has “just got to be worked out”.
