Government Ready To Sell Schools From Under The Feet Of Inner City Kids

Media Release.

 

The LNP Government is gearing up for a mass sell-off of Brisbane State Schools in a short-sighted move which will leave hundreds of families in crisis as they try to educate their children.

Acting Shadow Education Minister JoAnn Miller said the government had once again backflipped on its commitment to seek a public mandate before selling off state-owned assets by earmarking at least five schools for sale, without replacing them.

“It’s typical of this arrogant government which has already sold Queenslanders down the river to now start targeting primary school children,” Mrs Miller said.

“This government just keeps moving the goalposts. The Treasurer and Premier were extremely clear in saying they would not sell state assets without seeking the support of Queenslanders first.

“Then when its revealed they intend to sell off half of George Street, they change their minds and say that mandate only related to bigger assets.

“Our state schools are just too valuable to Queenslanders to be sold off to the highest bidder so they can be bulldozed and redeveloped. They are putting developers before education.

“Parents of kids who live in the inner city and in Fortitude Valley and the inner northern suburbs have for generations depended on schools like the Valley State School and Brisbane Central.

“These are great little schools that have for decades provided a solid education to thousands of kids.

“Why should the future generations be penalised just because these schools sit on tracts of land that are very attractive to property developers?”

Mrs Miller said it was extremely short-sighted to be selling primary schools that were only due to grow in the coming years.

“With major new developments like the RNA Showgrounds housing development numbers at these schools will grow considerably.

“But this government has no regard for Queensland’s future – they’ve already proven that by selling off Queensland health, by sacking thousands and thousands of workers and by slashing frontline services.

“Queenslanders should be in no way surprised that they would now attack state schools.

“And the families who depend on these schools are right to be disgusted at this disgraceful fire sale.”