News

Education | September 04, 2018

Kealy rounds up petition for Baimbridge College

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP is urging people to return signed petitions showing support for her call on the Andrews Labor Government to immediately provide funding to redevelop Hamilton’s Baimbridge College.

Ms Kealy launched a petition earlier this month demanding the Minister for Education, James Merlino provide the desperately needed funds to redevelop the College.

“I urge local people to get behind this vital project to deliver a brighter future for local students, to sign the petition and return completed forms to my electorate office as soon as possible,” Ms Kealy said.

Ms Kealy said she intends to table the petition in Parliament during September, sending a clear message to Daniel Andrews and James Merlino that all young people are entitled to a quality education, whether they live in the city or the country, and the residents of Lowan will accept nothing less.

“We must be able to give our local children access to the very best educational services and opportunities and I will continue to fight for a better deal for quality education in our region,” Ms Kealy said.

To add your voice and support the petition, visit emmakealy.com/baimbridge_college. Petition forms are available at a number of Hamilton businesses or by calling Emma Kealy’s electorate office on 5571 9800.

Baimbridge missed out on funding in the 2017-18 State budget and the 2018-19 State budget, despite being one of 35 schools to share in $12 million for planning in 2016-17.

The Liberal Nationals made a 2014 pre-election commitment to fund the project that Labor has failed to match, despite numerous representations from Ms Kealy.

Ms Kealy has visited the school on a number of occasions and seen firsthand the desperate need for repairs to school buildings which cannot be used because of their unsafe condition.

Funding to allow consolidation of the school to one site, eliminating significant safety concerns due to the two campuses currently being separated by a major road, is also desperately needed.

“Baimbridge College have great plans for their school but have been left high and dry because James Merlino has been too distracted trying to defend Labor’s red shirts rorting when instead he should be focusing on important projects like the desperately needed Baimbridge College redevelopment,” Ms Kealy said.