Clearly consultation around the future of East Brisbane State School is a sham.
I’m am deeply concerned by comments made by Premier Palaszczuk today that appear to trash any notion that her Government has any interest in listening to the concerns of parents, students, teachers and the community with regards to schooling arrangements at East Brisbane State School.
There has been significant anxiety in the community about the future of the school.
The community has been demanding consultation since the Premier first made the announcement about the Gabba.
Today in a media conference the Premier said:
“Yeah yeah yeah, so some good news there. We are going to build them a brand new school. So the school will be located less than 2km from where current school is.
“Minister Grace is currently speaking with the school principal at the moment and will be coordinating communication with the parents.
“Years 4,5, and 6, I’m advised, will complete their schooling at East Brisbane and the school will be re-located in 2026.”
I am deeply concerned because the government also only opened consultation with the public today exploring multiple options that the community is yet to provide feedback on.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government claims this consultation was due to be open until March 31.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government claims they would listen to the community.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government claims the views of Queenslanders matter.
However, today the Premier clearly revealed her Government has already made up their mind and the entire consultation process is nothing more than a show, a sham and a farce.
The fact this was also announced in a throwaway line at the end of a media conference tells you how unimportant Premier Palaszczuk views the East Brisbane State School community.
This is fake consultation with the fate of the school clearly already sealed.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government has already been caught not consulting on its Youth Crime laws.
Today we learn they have no interest in actually listening to the views of the community when it comes to the future of East Brisbane State School.
This is yet another example of a government that has stopped listening to Queenslanders.
-ENDS-
MEDIA NOTE: excerpt from Premier’s media release below:
East Brisbane State School
- Online submissions are now open here and the dates of community meetings will be announced shortly.
- The Department of Education will be consulting on three options:
- Relocating EBSS to new facilities at the Coorparoo Secondary College site
- Merging EBSS with Coorparoo Secondary College to become a P-12 school
- Students at EBSS to enrol at other local schools, with additional infrastructure built at those schools if needed
Initial consultation will be open until the end of Term 1 (March 31) and there will be further consultation throughout as the project progresses.
