The McGowan Government’s partial reversal of its cruel suite of education cuts is a show of regional Western Australia’s “people power”, according to The Nationals WA Leader Mia Davies.
Ms Davies said The Nationals remained disappointed that a number of Labor’s cuts would still go ahead, including the closure of five regional camp schools and the abolition of Moora Residential College.
“Today is a great day for regional Western Australia but there is still work to be done,” Ms Davies said.
“Our fight is not over. Even though our communities have had a win we cannot forget the families, businesses and communities which will suffer as a result of the closure of camp schools in Bridgetown, Pemberton, Kalgoorlie, Dampier and Geraldton.
“We cannot give up on the families who have had the Boarding Away from Home Allowing slashed or the agricultural colleges which have seen their farm provisions trust raided.
“I give my guarantee that The Nationals will not give up the fight for those families and businesses which the McGowan Government has targeted with these cruel cuts.”
Ms Davies congratulated everyone that had been involved in the campaign so far.
“The tireless work of countless community organisations and individual families made this reversal a reality,” she said. “Every student who filmed a video, every parent who posted on social media and every person who wrote a letter – today is your day. People power has won.”
Ms Davies criticised the Labor Government for putting regional students and their families through an agonising month of pain and uncertainty.
“The Premier and the Education Minister did not count on the resilience and fight in our regional communities,” she said. “We have shown we will not be pushed around by this Perth-first Government and we will not simply lie down and accept the cutting of core services in the bush.
“We are a force to be reckoned with and the Premier must think twice before he again tries to slash funding in regional Western Australia.”
Media enquiries: Alex Massey 0418 688 733 e: alex.massey@losp.wa.gov.au
