Narre Warren North candidates for Labor and Liberal have gone head-to-head on a funding pledge at a Narre Warren school.
Labor candidate Belinda Wilson announced on Friday 21 October that a re-elected Andrews Labor Government would commit $310,000 to upgrades at Fleetwood Primary School.
It comes just days after fellow candidate Timothy Dragan announced on Wednesday 19 October that the Liberal Party would invest $100,000 into the school.
Ms Wilson said the funds will go towards upgrades for toilets, fencing and water fountains at the school.
“The best teachers aren’t able to do the best job in ageing classrooms and out-of-date facilities.That’s why the Andrews Labor Government has invested more than $12.8 billion to build and upgrade schools in every corner of the state – making sure every kid has every chance,” she said.
“When Matthew Guy’s Liberals were last in government, they cut more than $1 billion from our education system – including slashing the Education Maintenance Allowance, cutting funding for speech pathologists, psychologists and social workers in schools and failing to invest in the new schools our growing state needed.”
Education minister Natalie Hutchins said she wants teachers and students to have what they need to succeed in the classroom.
“Our teachers do an amazing job educating Victorian students and that’s why we’ve delivered so many new and upgraded classrooms and facilities at schools right across the state.”
Mr Dragan has slammed Labor’s announcement, calling it “proof that Labor only care about playing politics”.
“We delivered and now Labor all of a sudden cares. This is politics, not real genuine care,” he said.
Fleetwood Primary School acting principal Tobin Cuss said the school supports any decision to invest in improving its facilities.
The Labor Government said it is currently working on a commitment to to build 100 new schools by 2026, 75 of which are already funded or opened.
