2017-06-08
The Queensland Greens say they cautiously welcome the announcement of two new high schools in the inner city, but the community deserves more than knee jerk short term reactions.
“Two new high schools in the inner-city will I am sure be a good thing, but the reality is this announcement was made without community consultation", said Kirsten Lovejoy, Greens candidate for McConnel.
“It makes a great headline, but where’s the long-term thinking in this.”
“If Labor or the LNP had been listening they would know that people have been crying out for a long-term solution to school overcrowding for years now.
LNP tried to sell off Fortitude Valley State School, and both Labor and the LNP sold off the Distance Education in West End to a property developer, ignoring the voices of the community.
“It’s interesting that only now, when the Greens stand to win McConnel and South Brisbane, that we see any action from Labor.
“If Labor would actually listen to the community they would know that we desperately need new space for primary school kids as well.
“What Brisbane needs is an open transparent masterplanning exercise that puts long term population growth front and centre, politicians need to stop shutting the community out of the discussion.
“Our communities desperately need new space for primary school kids as well as high schools and children’s play space must be prioritised.
“There’s a broader problem here as well, other Brisbane schools are losing kids to Brisbane State High and Kelvin Grove College because parents see them as better schools. More needs to be done to address the real and perceived inequalities between public schools.
"It seems that the only two electorates to benefit from this announcement are ones where Labor ministers are at risk of losing their seats.