14 December 2017
Nationals WA education and training spokesperson Peter Rundle MLA has slammed the McGowan Government for their utter disregard for regional families after yesterday’s announcement of $64 million of cruel cuts to the education system over four years.
These cuts include closing Schools of the Air, six camp schools and the Moora and Northam Residential Colleges while also slashing Gifted and Talented programmes in 18 schools and raising fees for VacSwim classes.
Mr Rundle said that the Labor Government continue to treat regional families like second class citizens.
“Schools of the Air and residential colleges are vital educational infrastructure that allow regional, rural and remote students to access quality education without having to relocate to the city,” Mr Rundle said.
“The closure of the Schools of the Air is particularly cruel, and proves that this Government not only have no understanding of the challenges regional families face, but that they simply just don’t care.”
$16 million a year in savings will not address the Government’s debt issues, and instead of utilising real debt reduction solutions such reviewing State Agreements, the Labor Government are penalising families living in regional WA to fund their city-centric election promises.
“The Premier has already slashed the Boarding Away From Home Allowance, scrapped Aboriginal educator roles and has said he will reduce staffing levels at the Education Department by half,” Mr Rundle said.
“This is in addition to the thousands of other senseless cuts to regional services, jobs and funding streams such as Royalties for Regions.
“You have to wonder, what cuts are coming next for regional WA?”
