Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest has responded to claims by Federal Labor MP Justine Elliot claiming that the school amalgamation from four to one in Murwillumbah is a cost cutting exercise as ‘just plain wrong’ and ‘malicious’.
‘The reforms to education in Murwillumbah is a NSW government investment of over $100 million for our local schools,’ Mr Provest said.
‘This new project will deliver more classrooms, better facilities and improved curriculum offerings for students in Murwillumbah.
‘By contrast, Ms Elliot has delivered precisely nothing for the Tweed over the past seven years except scare campaign after scare campaign, all of which have proven to be groundless,’ Mr Provest concluded.
Sold off or not?
Accusations that this is another Liberal-National party land grab have been rejected by Mr Provest who told Echonetdaily that, ‘The intention is to keep this land in public ownership for the community and for community use as stated by the Deputy Premier at the announcement. There will be future consultation to determine what the community wants on these sites.’
He has also reiterated that there will be ‘no loss of permanent positions and consultation is being undertaken with the Teachers Federation. Casual/temporary positions are dependent on enrolments and the discretion of principals.’
However, as one concerned teacher has said in the comments on Echonetdaily, ‘As a teacher that was displaced from the building of the “Super School” at Ballina I can assure the teachers of the schools involved that their lives will be sent into a spiral of uncertainty and anxiety. There will be promises that will not be met.’
Heritage aspects to remain
Concerns raised by locals that the heritage parts of the school would be demolished have also been rejected by Mr Provest who told Echonetdaily that ‘the heritage aspects of the building are extremely important and will be incorporated into the final design’ as had been emphasised during the announcement by the Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.
Hey, Trust me I’m a National party politician !
….And there goes another flock of flying pigs.
Cheers, G”)
Yes of course the LNP wouldn’t do anything dodgy or deprive (public) school children of a decent education.
Just like Geoff promised for years to get the trains running and build the rail connection to Coolangatta-until they had the opportunity to do it.
The one thing our politicians excel at is rorting taxpayers. It’s not surprising they don’t have time to actually provide services and infrastructure the community needs, which is what we pay them well to do. No matter how many times they’re caught with their hands planted in the till, and lying, taxpayers still keep voting them in.
At least Eddie Obeid et al went to gaol for their criminal activities. This lot seem to be able to lie their way out of anything.
I’ll believe it when I see it. A buy off – or a buy-out.
and of course, as we know from experience, Geoff Provest and the NSW LNP would never tell a lie….much!
To Jeff Provest
Why was there no consultation with the school communities? And by school community I mean P and C, the mums and dads, the teachers, the school staff and the students.
What are the added educational benefits to the students ?
Does Mr Provest acknowledge that this is an arrogant disregard for the community that it directly targets?
Is this the style of government we can expect ; closures, of facilities without consultation with community?
Just like the state significant farmland owned by National Party stalwarts across the road from the new Kingscliff hospital being advertised this week as a great development site. Mrs Kelly wouldn’t let Ned play with them!
Creeping mug lairs & a dime a dozen. I suppose the Nats think we came
down in the last shower.
All previous comments have saved me a lot of typing. I wholeheartedly agree with them all!
There is no way you can convince me that this school shutdown will mean better outcomes for the children of Murwillumbah. I smell a rat…a Nat rat.
Yeah sure!. Don’t doubt a word, not!
Hospital cuts our rail and now our schools. Who gave this bloke a vote. Definitely not looking after our kids. The value of being educated in a small community school being supported by staff that are aware of circumstances and issues vs being a number in a large school, lost in the crowd.
Well, when you see the level of almost now daily corruption and rorting allegations against the LNP in NSW and Federally, you have to realise the millions of dollars wasted, has to come from some where and the LNP has as usual decided it’s going to come from public school education. It really is that simple.
Most Tweed residents will remember the attempts by the LNP to close many small public schools throughout the Tweed decades ago.
This is just another regurgitated LNP zombie policy. They probably have portfolios of them just waiting to unleash on the public?
The Campbell Newman LNP Govt in QLD did the same thing.
As usual, it will be the Murwillumbah and Tweed public hospitals in their sights next, as you all would have grown to expect from the LNP zombie policy formula.
There is no such thing as a dead buried and cremated LNP zombie policy!
You all know what the LNP stand for, yet there is a group of uncaring unconcerned voters, many of whom have just recently moved to the Tweed unaware of the LNP track record.
These people have given the LNP a mandate to decimate the Tweed as we know it.
People need to open their eyes, it’s not as if we cannot see the catastrophic result of electing LNP Govts, that are now completely out of control. Morrison and Berejiklian Govts are probably two of the most abusive, unaccountable, noninvestigated, unprocecuted disasters ever inflicted on Australia since Federation.
I will second that, Tweed. The Campbell Newman LNP Govt is still
stuck in my brain while the Morrison-Glad mix is too Trump-like for
anyone’s good.