By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE State Government will cover the cost for state schools to send mass text alerts in case of emergencies, after a spate of bomb threats across the nation in recent weeks.
Education Minister James Merlino confirmed on Friday the government would pay for sending SMS alerts to parents during emergency situations, including bushfires, in the wake of a series of threatening calls which have seen a number of schools in Casey and Cardinia evacuated.
The SMS service was installed at all schools last year but some hadn’t activated the service.
“The latest hoaxes have been a timely reminder about the importance of schools quickly notifying their parent communities, after first ensuring the safety of students and staff,” Mr Merlino said.
On Thursday 11 February another Pakenham school – Pakenham Springs Primary School, on Livingstone Boulevard – was evacuated due to a bomb threat call.
It comes as a number of Victorian schools have been evacuated for the same reason in the last fortnight, including St Patrick’s Primary School in Pakenham, Kooweerup Primary School, Berwick Chase Primary and Berwick Lodge.
Police are yet to lay charges against those responsible for the calls, many of which were automated, received by various Melbourne schools.
However, Nossal High School in Berwick has been linked to the hoax bomb threat made against Berwick Lodge Primary School on Friday 29 January. Hackers are believed responsible for that incident.
Police are continuing to investigate.
Threatening calls have also been made to schools in New South Wales and Queensland, while it’s understood a number of other countries, including the UK and France, received similar threatening phone calls.
Anyone with further information regarding the hoax calls is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
