POLICE Minister Judy Spence has written to the family of another alleged sexual assault victim at a Cairns school, assuring them the matter will be 
investigated.

Two six-year-old boys allegedly tried to sexually assault the girl, also aged 6, after they cornered her in the school grounds during a lunch break in December last year.

A woman taking her child some lunch saw the incident and stepped in, taking the girl to the administration office.

Police confirmed they had investigated "an alleged assault of a sexual nature".

But they are powerless to act because the alleged offenders are younger than 10 and, by law, not deemed to be criminally responsible.

The boys involved have been reprimanded and counselled but not expelled.

The Cairns Post revealed on Wednesday that five-year-old boys were also allegedly sexually assaulted by other prep class children at a different Cairns school last month.

revealed on Wednesday that five-year-old boys were also allegedly sexually assaulted by other prep class children at a different Cairns school last month.

Mulgrave MP Warren Pitt told Premier Anna Bligh, Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech, Education Minister Rod Welford and Ms Spence after learning of the alleged assault in December.

In a letter to the girl’s family in March, Ms Spence said the matter "is receiving attention" and they would be advised of any action "as soon as possible".

The girl’s mother told The Cairns Post her daughter had since changed schools but was still suffering the trauma of the alleged assault.

"She doesn’t really quite know what’s happening," she said. "She doesn’t like to talk about it."

Authorities should consider installing security cameras at schools to prevent other assaults, she said.

At the time, Mr Welford said the boys had been dealt with appropriately and that all relevant authorities, including the Department of Child Safety, had been notified.

"The principal immediately hauled the boys in," he said.

"They were admonished.

"The principal read the riot act to them.

"The parents were told this sort of behaviour was unacceptable."

Mr Welford said suspending the boys "just cuts them loose and doesn’t apply any discipline".

Mr Pitt said he was disturbed by reports of the alleged assault.

"I wonder where children of this age pick up this sort of stuff," he said.

"These boys need some sorting out."

 

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