Schools overlooked

Member for Ripon Louise Staley believes the State Government has, through budgetary measures, ‘shut the door’ on important educational institutions in her electorate.

Ms Staley said the government’s decision to overlook catholic and independent schools in the 2018-19 budget would adversely affect students across Ripon, which includes Ararat, Stawell and Maryborough.

“In the 2018-19 budget, there is an allocation of $1.3-billion for new schools and school upgrades, but not one new dollar for Catholic and independent schools that educate 37 percent of Victorian students,” she said.

“Labor has chosen to shut the door on Ripon’s eight catholic primary schools, the Catholic Marian College of Ararat and the independent Highview College of Maryborough that educate thousands of young students from many different backgrounds.”

Ms Staley said Catholic and independent schools deserved funding.

“Families that choose to send their child to Catholic and independent schools should not be punished,” she said.