Fitzgerald fights for compromise plan for Maffra Secondary College
Gippsland Liberal candidate Rohan Fitzgerald today stepped up the fight for a fair go for Maffra Secondary College and called on the State government to fund part of the redevelopment.
After an urgent meeting with a representative from the School’s Council today, Rohan demanded the government accept the school’s new bid for funding. The proposal would kick start the project with the remainder being completed at a later date.
The School Council estimates $2 million would fund the construction of a new building to support 450 middle school students in years 7, 8 and 9. Maffra Secondary College had sought to secure $5.7 million from the state budget but was completely passed over for funding by the state Labor government.
Initial government reports indicated that the school had been successful in its bid, but the government backtracked and withdrew any new money from the community school claiming it had made a mistake in its budget material.
“Maffra Secondary School deserves a fair go,” Rohan said. “The state Labor government must do the right thing and immediately fund the school’s new, reasonable bid.
“Maffra Secondary College School’s Council is willing to compromise to secure a better outcome for its students. It’s time for the government to do the same and fund this proposal.
“Gippsland has been badly let down again by the Labor government and the budget blunder over Maffra Secondary College in just the latest blow to an area that has suffered years of state government neglect.
“The Premier and Treasurer are now reportedly telling other State parliamentarians that funding might be available at the end of 2010 but that is simply not good enough. The government needs to come up with the $2 million for a new middle school building now.
“Maffra deserves better. Its hospital has been allowed to run down and now the secondary school has been passed over.
“For years, local residents have seen their critical infrastructure deteriorate while listening to Labor promises which are never delivered. To backtrack on an initial budget commitment and then put the promise into the never-never is a real setback for the education needs of secondary school students in the town. It’s time to stand up for our school kids, who have suffered the funding neglect of Labor.
“As I travel around Gippsland people tell me they want someone in their corner fighting for their schools, their health services, their jobs and their roads. I’ll take the fight right to Spring St to secure a fairer go for Gippsland.”
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