Labor must come clean on Largs Bay school amalgamations
Feb 10, 2012
David Pisoni MP
Shadow Minister for Education
Shadow Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Development
Labor must come clean on Largs Bay school amalgamations
The School Amalgamation Review Panel has recommended that the Largs Bay Junior Primary and Primary Schools do not amalgamate under the Labor Government’s controversial school amalgamations plan.
The Weatherill Labor Government plans to amalgamate approximately 42 junior primary and primary schools across South Australia to save $6 million each year.
The proposed amalgamations would see primary schools lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding which will compromise education standards.
Education Minister Portolesi has also spent $375,000 on the School Amalgamation Review Committees.
Shadow Education Minister David Pisoni said Ms Portolesi had a lot of questions to answer.
“Is Ms Portolesi going to accept the Panel’s recommendation or go against its advice?” Mr Pisoni said.
“Ms Portolesi must also explain why she hasn’t made this announcement yet. She is also required by law to table her decision in Parliament if she chooses to go against the recommendation of the Review Panel.
“The Weatherill Labor Government must know that defying the Panel’s recommendation could cause a backlash in Port Adelaide with the upcoming by-election.
“But parents at the Largs Bay schools deserve to know before Saturday’s by-election what the Weatherill Labor Government’s plans are for their schools.”