News

Education | April 15, 2016

Kealy supports cross border bus runs

Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is disappointed the Andrew’s Labor Government will not consider renegotiating a cross border bus service to support the Apsley Primary School, its students and families.

“I have written to the Minister for Education requesting urgent intervention and to support an application to alter an Apsley School bus run to collect students who live South Australia,” Ms Kealy said.

“I was disappointed to receive a response from the Minister stating that it is the State where the students resides that is responsible for providing transport services,” she said.

There are existing cross-border financial arrangements in place for a number of State Government services such as hospital presentations and other school bus runs in communities along the Murray River.

“It is extremely disappointing that when it comes to Apsley, the Andrews Labor Government show no interest in doing their job and negotiating a financial arrangement with the South Australian Government,” Ms Kealy said.

“This response clearly shows the Andrews Labor Government’s lack of support for our schools, particularly those in rural areas which at times are struggling to maintain student numbers and to keep their doors open.

“For students who live in South Australia, Apsley is their closest school and a cross border school bus service makes sense.

“Labor won’t even bother to consider a school bus run that crosses the border between Victoria and South Australia. We’re just too far from Melbourne for the Andrews Government to be interested

“This red tape is putting unnecessary pressure on our small rural schools and I am aware that Apsley is not the only example of this across the State,” she said.