Australian minister reveals boy's 'plan' for massacre

A government minister in Australia has been accused of creating widespread panic, after he revealed a boy's alleged plan to stage a massacre at a Sydney high school.

New South Wales state Education Minister John Aquilina announced in parliament that students at the unnamed school uncovered a plot by a 15-year-old boy to stage a massacre similar to the Columbine High School slayings, in the United States.

Mr Aquilina said the boy's diary included "graphic passages", detailing a hit list of students and teachers, plans to commit suicide and the layout of school buildings.

The minister said: "We cannot go on sweeping these sorts of things under the carpet and pretend they don't exist."

He added that the teenager, who is undergoing counselling, has an excellent chance of being readmitted to one of the state's high schools.

New South Wales Parents and Citizens Association spokesman Rodney Molesworth criticised Mr Aquilina for the way in which he announced the discovery, saying it was "sensational."

Mr Molesworth said: "All that's been found are some musings on paper by an individual who may or may not be disturbed and who needs some assistance. We're talking about helping someone who almost certainly had no intention of harming anyone."

Opposition education spokeswoman Patricia Forsythe said. "I think Mr Aquilina has acted very irresponsibly.

"He left parents right across the state wondering whether it was their school, students and teachers wondering about their safety."