Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to update the House on the appalling decision by the New South Wales Liberal-National government to close four public schools in Murwillumbah and amalgamate them into one mega school. This decision was made without any meaningful consultation with the local community, the P&C, students or the local New South Wales Teachers Federation. In fact, the New South Wales education minister, Sarah Mitchell, has gone to great lengths to actually exclude the community and she has treated the people of Murwillumbah with absolute contempt.

There are protocols in place when the closure or amalgamation of a school is being considered, and these include forming a schools consultative group. This has not happened. Our community wants to know why the minister has failed to follow the proper procedures. Further, the minister may have in fact breached the requirements under section 28 of the New South Wales Education Act. The act requires a review committee to be formed within 21 days of the announcement of a school closure. This has not happened. The minister has an obligation to consult on this decision. She has a moral obligation, a procedural obligation and a legal obligation. The New South Wales education minister, Sarah Mitchell, must explain why she has not fulfilled her legal obligation in this case. My message to the minister is very clear: stop these plans now and do your duty and consult. My message to the Murwillumbah community is very clear as well: I will continue to raise these issues every day in every forum because I'm always on your side.