Labor demands delivery on school upgrade

LABOR candidate Jeff Drayton and Shadow Minister for Education Prue Car called out the State Government today for not delivering on promised upgrades to Muswellbrook South Public School.

“The Nationals promised an upgrade to this school at the last election, more than two years ago but not one bit of dirt has turned,” Ms Car said.

“There are eight demountable’s, so clearly the school desperately needs an upgrade,” she said.

“The Premier and John Barilaro and the Education Minister are constantly talking about how they’re opening new schools in Sydney, well here’s the evidence to show they have forgotten about the Upper Hunter,” she said.

Jeff Drayton said the government continues to treat people of the Upper Hunter with “complete contempt” but he would support a future Nationals announcement committing to the upgrade delivery. 

“It really is a shame that we need to get around to highlighting these issues and commit to funding and in this case, to just getting it done. It’s not about the funding it was promised two years ago and it hasn’t even started,” Mr Drayton said.

“Tomorrow, you might have the Nationals commit to continue it. They seem to have followed us around for the last couple of weeks doing that,” he said.

“I don’t think people of the Upper Hunter believe the government anymore. This is a great example here. Labor will come in, we will deliver on our commitments,” he said.

The Labor Party is campaigning for an increase in returned coal royalties which Mr Drayton said would be used for future investment in local education. 

“Why is it that a kid in Muswellbrook doesn’t deserve the same facilities and same education as a kid in Sydney? The money that we send out to Sydney from the Upper Hunter is being used exactly for that,” Mr Drayton said.

“It’s really hard to put a figure on it, purely because it’s such a mess. We’ve highlighted a number of issues within education. The first step might be just to get those critical areas sorted and then we can work out what also needs to be spent after that,” he said.

Editors note: Tender advertisements and design applications for the upgrade of Muswellbrook South Public School are available online via Estimate One, with quotes due by March 26, 2021. 

The scope of works is currently estimated between ten and $15 million and include but are not limited to:

– Construction of 13 new permanent learning spaces (new building) including associated works;
– Refurbishment to Blocks A, B, C, G, H, I, R & S;
– Confirm compliant access to Block Q;
– Demolish 1 permanent support class (Block K);
– Relocate COLA (SS3) and Shed (L).

For more information on where candidates stand: Voting 101: Upper Hunter by-election.