Mum who confronted daughter’s alleged bully makes a devastating admission after being called out by premier

A mother who barged into a classroom and threatened to ‘slit’ a 12-year-old girl’s throat alleged the girl had been bullying her daughter to the point she’d stopped eating.

The mother, who is 20 weeks pregnant, confronted her daughter’s classmates in a foul-mouthed tirade at St Paul’s College in Gillies Plains, north-east Adelaide, last Monday.

She fronted Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson’s national breakfast program on Friday to detail her side of the story.

‘Our daughter was bullied immensely, probably for over 12 months,’ she said.

‘She stopped eating, I would find mouldy sandwiches in her bag.

‘She had come home and she fell into my arms on the floor and said “mum, I cannot do this anymore, what is the point of living?”‘

Henderson was left stunned by the mother’s admission.

‘Oh my god, as a mum, I can only imagine what you thought,’ Henderson said.

Sandilands was furious after hearing the woman’s story but reassured her: ‘You did what you’re supposed to do, you protected your child.’

The mother added she’d gone through ‘the right channels’ before confronting her daughter’s alleged bully herself, but received no help.

‘It is disgusting that they didn’t do anything for you,’ Henderson said.

The mum replied: ‘She would go from a beautiful thirteen-year-old girl to nothing.’

Sandilands claimed KIIS FM had invited the eSafety Commissioner onto the show to discuss school bullying and youth suicide.

‘The e-commissioner will not come on and talk to us about it, that’s her only job,’ Sandilands said.

‘Bullying should be immediately outlawed, and I mean severe punishment.

‘How many little kids have to die? Just one politician is all we need to stand up and protect the children.’

Footage of the classroom clash showed the mother being restrained by two men – one understood to be her husband – as shocked year eight students watched on.

‘You ever f******* mess with my daughter again, I’ll slit you’re f******* throat,’ she screamed.

‘You want to f******* go b***h? You want to f****** go? You ever f******* talk to my daughter again.

‘I’m your f****** nightmare b***h… I’ll slit your f****** throat. I’ll be waiting for you.’

The woman delivered one more barb as she was ushered out of the classroom.

‘And that smart little f*** over there, yeah, you know you’re just jealous because you’re a **** ****,’ she yelled at another student.

A police investigation is underway, and St John’s College principal Patrick Harmer tried to assure parents that the matter was being handled.

‘The college remains committed to its duty of care for all students and staff,’ he wrote.

‘We provide an environment where the safety and wellbeing of all is our highest priority. We will continue to ensure the best possible support for our students and staff during this time.

‘We are continuing to work closely with the South Australian Police, and as a result, we are unable to provide further details regarding the incident.’

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas weighed into the controversy, describing the mother’s conduct as ‘indefensible’ and ‘mind-boggling’.

‘I don’t know what the circumstances were that led the parent to say those things, but whatever they were, they do not condone or justify those remarks in any circumstance whatsoever,’ he said on Wednesday.

‘How do you possibly rationalise that behaviour, how does anyone in their own mind justify or rationalise that behaviour?’

St Paul’s College is a Catholic coeducational school, which has up to 1,000 students from reception through to Year 12.

Fees start from almost $4,000 yearly for reception-year two students to $8,330 for years 11 and 12.

The incident comes weeks after the South Australian government introduced strict new laws targeting abusive parents.

Australian government introduced tough new laws targeting abusive parents. 

The Education and Children’s Services (Barring Notices and Other Protections) Amendment Bill 2024 give principals, preschool directors and other education leaders the power to ban parents and others who pose a threat to the safety or wellbeing of staff and students from coming within 25m of school grounds.

The maximum ban period has been doubled from three months to six while the maximum penalty for offences has trebled from $2,500 to $7,500.

‘Educators and the wider community expect schools and preschools to be safe and supportive learning environments where there is no place for violence or intimidating and threatening behaviour,’ Premier Malinauskas said.

For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.