These parents say their crumbling state school isn't being fixed because of who they vote for
The long-running maintenance issues at the 150-year-old Brighton Primary School came to a head this year when the floors in four classrooms and a student bathroom had to be ripped out after being eaten by termites.
The school's 500-plus students are learning in 50-year-old demountable classrooms just metres away from a busy train line, collapsing brick walls are creating no-go zones and the campus has been refused grant funding to replace its 30-year-old playground for three years running.
The school council says parents believe the school is being overlooked by the state Labor government because it is in an affluent suburb and a Liberal political stronghold. The party's local state MP described the situation as 'reprehensible'.
The Victorian Schools Building Authority (VSBA) said it responded promptly to maintenance issues at Brighton Primary and that it was supporting the school to ensure student and staff safety.
But school council president Aaron Stead said maintenance has been underfunded for decades, despite it being one of just four government schools in metropolitan Melbourne to offer specialist teaching to deaf children.
'Where the school has really struggled for the last few decades in getting any funding from the government is capital infrastructure,' Stead said.
'We've got 14 demountables or portables that are up to 50 years old, they're in various states of disrepair, they're under-sized for current learning standards, the number of students you can get into them is not what's recommended by the state government.'
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Sydney Morning Herald
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The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
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The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
PM lays out economic path to Indigenous empowerment
While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. 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Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future."Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development," she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. "We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation," he said. Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. "Investing in the native title sector is game-changing," he said. "This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage." While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. "Our people have been asking for this for generations," she said. "Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open - generation after generation. "We can't heal what we won't name." Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future."Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development," she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. "We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation," he said. Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. "Investing in the native title sector is game-changing," he said. "This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage." While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. "Our people have been asking for this for generations," she said. "Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open - generation after generation. "We can't heal what we won't name." Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 While some welcome the prime minister's focus on economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, others brand it a further step from truth-telling. Anthony Albanese has used his address at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land to unveil an economic partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance. "This builds on our commitment to the Closing the Gap Agreement, to its call for a new way of doing business and to the principle of shared decision-making," he told the festival audience at Gulkula in the Northern Territory on Saturday. The approach will allow traditional owners to advocate for infrastructure, housing and energy projects on their land and build equity beyond the land itself. Coalition of Peaks lead convener Pat Turner said the partnership was about putting Indigenous communities in control of their economic future."Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been clear for decades that our community-controlled organisations are the best employers of our people, providing the foundation for our economic development," she said. Addressing the crowd at Garma, Yolngu leader and chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Djawa Yunupingu said he wanted a real economy for his people. "We intend to use our lands and waters for our own future and the future of our children, and the future of our nation," he said. Mr Albanese also announced $70 million for Indigenous clean energy projects, $31 million for a mobile TAFE program and $75 million for native title reform under the partnership. National Native Title Council chief executive Jamie Lowe said this funding showed the government was serious about supporting traditional owners. "Investing in the native title sector is game-changing," he said. "This injection of capacity will mean more jobs, more opportunities for young people and stronger protection for our cultural heritage." While some organisations met the prime minister's announcement with praise, Aunty Glendra Stubbs, the elder in residence at community legal centre Knowmore, expressed disappointment in a lack of any mention of truth-telling. The government backed away from its commitment to Makarrata in 2024 and though he acknowledged the work of the Victorian truth-telling inquiry Yoorrook, Mr Albanese made no mention of a national process in his address. Aunty Glendra said it hurt to see truth-telling missing from the conversation. "Our people have been asking for this for generations," she said. "Without truth, the pain of colonisation remains open - generation after generation. "We can't heal what we won't name." Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said it was time for Mr Albanese to recommit to federal truth-telling and treaty. "Cash for the corporations and a few utes are crumbs on the table while so many of our people are dying in custody and governments continue to steal and jail our children at record rates," she said. Garma is marking its 25th festival and Mr Yunupingu acknowledged those who started it in 1999 - his brothers - and the festival's roots in promises of treaty, which were "washed down" by governments of the past but never forgotten. Mr Yunupingu said he felt the disappointment again at the result of the voice referendum in 2023. "We talked about it last year, we shed a tear to that and now it's behind us," he said, speaking about Mr Albanese's visit to Garma in 2024. "Even though we live with shattered dreams, we must keep looking to the future." 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
