WATCHDOG’S JOB

A PEDESTRIAN crossing and lollipop ladies are to be provided to boost road safety outside a school where a child was run over this week.

But before the State Government and politicians try to claim credit, this did not happen as soon as the boy was injured.

No, despite years of warnings from parents about the danger outside the Pimpama State Primary and Secondary Colleges, it took the Bulletin’s front page story yesterday about the injured boy – and also our report on how a parent had written to the Premier months ago pleading for help – to force the Government into action at long last.

As the young victim told us yesterday, he had to take one for the team so the school could have a safe crossing. The injured boy, campaigning parents and the Bulletin achieved what politicians, bureaucrats and committees could not while they stuffed around, possibly for four years since the primary school opened, with risk assessments and red tape.

This is why the public needs a good newspaper to act as its watchdog.