Labor must come clean on school funding cuts
Mark Speakman
Leader of the NSW Opposition
Sarah Mitchell
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Learning
Eleni Petinos
Shadow Minister for Finance
The NSW Opposition has called on the Minns Labor Government to deliver the school upgrades it promised before the election, after parents raised concerns about funding shortfalls.
The Capital Commitment to Other Schools program included 11 projects across the state, with $4 million to go towards a multi-purpose hall for Sutherland Public School.
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman, Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell and Shadow Minister for Finance Eleni Petinos visited the school this morning.
“This Minns Labor Government told Sutherland Public School it would be given a hall big enough to accommodate the entire student population, but now Prue Car is refusing to guarantee whether the allocated funding will be enough,” Mr Speakman said.
“Labor stood before this community and made this promise, yet parents and students can’t even get a straight answer a year after the election.”
The concerns come after $148 million was ripped from school budgets across the state on the eve of the school holidays.
“All this Government has shown us is that it is never upfront when it comes to school spending, and teachers, parents and families deserve better,” Mrs Mitchell said.
“Labor wasn’t transparent about the true cost of its union pay deal and now it isn’t being transparent about this program and it’s always our kids that pay the price.”
Despite calls to Labor’s Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart, parents are still in the dark and unable to get a guarantee that the promised multi-purpose hall will be delivered.
“As the neighbouring Member of Parliament, I have been receiving calls from concerned parents asking legitimate questions about the delivery of this election promise,” Ms Petinos said.
“If it’s good enough for Maryanne Stuart and Prue Car to stand here and make promises before the election, then it’s good enough for them to front up and explain the true impact of their cuts to school funding.”
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