August 10, 2018 Education must receive same commitment as CRCs The Liberal Opposition is again calling on the McGowan Government to immediately reverse its decision to close Moora Residential College and all other remaining education cuts in light of today’s funding reversal to Community Resource Centres. Shadow Minister for Education Donna Faragher said the Government needed to listen to the Moora community and keep the college open. “The Government said that after it ‘has listened to regional community concerns about the future of Community Resource Centres’ their funding would continue,” Mrs Faragher said. “This is very welcome news but it must now be followed up with an announcement to reverse the poorly thought out decision to close Moora Residential College and the other remaining cuts to public education. “Moora and all of regional WA have repeatedly demanded that this unnecessary budget cut be reversed. The Minister must listen and take immediate action. “The Minister’s other remaining outrageous budget cuts, including those impacting community kindergartens, Landsdale Farm School, Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre, agricultural colleges and camp schools, should also be reversed. “Enough is enough. If the Government can reverse its decisions on School of the Air and now on CRCs, it obviously has the ability to reverse other remaining education cuts.” Shadow Minister for Regional Development Jim Chown said while regional WA would welcome the CRC reversal it was only one small step regarding the cutting of frontline services to regional education. “The Minister and the Premier have obviously decided to step back from their draconian attack on CRCs,” Mr Chown said. “The Government also needs to listen to the ever-growing concern throughout regional WA about the cuts to Moora Residential College, the privatisation of camp schools and their money grab from the trust fund which supports agricultural colleges.” Ends |
