I think the possible confusion over whether paddle or cane is used arises because there is more than one school mentioned in the report. The state of play according to the article appears to be:
Bundaberg Christian College: Has used the paddle (plastic table tennis bat type) fairly infrequently for some years and is continuing to do so. Despite the title of the article I can see no actual reference in it to this school either switching to the cane or bringing it in as an additional means of punishment. Some people, possibly including the author of the article, refer to all school corporal punishment as ‘the cane’.