PRIORITIES STINK

PIMPAMA schoolkids stepped out under a new mantle of safety yesterday, watched by lollipop ladies in bright new uniforms, tooting their whistles to shepherd children across new pedestrian crossings.

This should have been the case since day one in 2015, when Pimpama State Primary College first opened. But there were no crossings then and it has taken pleading by parents, campaigning by the community and Bulletin and, sadly, an incident in which a pupil was struck and injured by a car to force the authorities to get off their behinds. Pimpama Primary College now has its crossings. At last. That is great news – for Pimpama. But another school, Highland Reserve State School at Upper Coomera, is battling for another crossing outside the school gate, to cross a major road that was recently built and has cut the campus and its 800 children off from a large residential area.

Crossings should be there for all schools. They should not be a matter for committees and debate, yet they are. Why is there always a fight for this most vital – and cheap – road-safety measure?

Why in 2018 is there also still a fight for airconditioning for state school kids while MPs, an army of public servants and even jail prisoners are looked after?

Something stinks with priorities in Queensland. Put our children first.