Education funding
Nicholas McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:00): I have risen previously in this place and forewarned of the impending crisis in the public school system. Being a product of the public school system myself, I am one who, like many of my peers at the time, cherished school camps. Unfortunately, President, as I travel around our electorate, school after school, teacher after teacher and principal after principal share with me their very grave concerns that in probably less than a year’s time the funding that they are currently using to accommodate and to actually facilitate school camps will run out. It all goes back to the enterprise bargaining agreement. It is a financial issue, and I was very disappointed that in this budget there is no further consideration or allowance to actually facilitate children – some of the youngest children in this state – being able to attend school camp. School camp is not and ought not to be treated as a luxury. It is absolutely important and in many instances vital, and perhaps for some the very first experience children will have to leave the comfort of their own family home to spend a night or several nights with their peers and begin that transition and that progress toward independent living. I share this concern yet again with the house, and I hope in the future the minister takes the opportunity to remedy the shortfall in funding.