Devastated to report the Nationals will not match Labor’s commitment to build Huntlee High School
Devastated to report that the Nationals will not match Labor’s commitment to build Huntlee High School.
When Dave Layzell (Nationals, Upper Hunter) finally met with me yesterday, I had hoped to hear that he was working on the issue, discussing it with the rest of his party, pushing for what our community so desperately needs. Instead I heard (best as I recall, given heightened emotions, plus only putting pen to paper over 24 hours later) that when the Department of Education decides that their figures show sufficient need, THEN he will be our “greatest advocate”. Actually devastating. We don’t need a “representative” who is only willing to advocate for us once the battle is already over, we need someone who is ready and willing to fight for us now! We need someone who will listen to our community, and believe us when we tell him our urgent the situation is, not deny the need because his government says that it doesn’t exist! I asked what the actual figure is that the Department of Education says that we need to reach. He wasn’t sure but said he would try to find out. We do know that Dungog High School has 660 students. Bulahdelah Central School (K-12) has 440 students. Branxton, Huntlee and surrounds could do those sorts of numbers with our hands tied behind our backs! The difference is, they have had their high schools for generations, but we have to fight desperately for ours NOW. AGAINST our local member who should already be advocating for our childrens’ education! Turns out that when it comes to Branxton, Labor cares far more about country kids and their education than the Nationals do.
From my understanding of our conversation, Dave Layzell claims to believe that Labor’s commitment to begin planning Huntlee High School is nothing more than what the Nationals/Liberals are already doing by analysing data and monitoring trends. However, I have since spoken again with Peree (Labor, Upper Hunter) about this statement, and she has assured me that Labor is committing to actually getting started on the work to deliver a high school for our community. They are committing to commencing a formal planning process. Not monitoring trends and sitting on their hands, but community consultation, acquiring land, and working towards physically building this high school. Not denying that the need exists and wiping their hands of it as being an issue for the Department of Education. Whatever else it may be, the Department of Education is an aspect of the State Government. It is controlled by the State Government, and it is the responsibility of the State Government. To sit and tell me that the State Government fast tracking residential development at Huntlee, and the State Government failing to build a high school, and the State Government denying the inadequacies of the bus services between Branxton and Rutherford – to tell me that those are three separate issues, for three separate departments, is not some brilliant excuse! If anything, it is a sign of an even bigger problem, that these departments are allowed to operate as though each of them has no impact on the other!
I have so much more that I want to say about all this. Concise is not my speciality. I had really wanted to be able to leave that meeting and tell you that the Nationals understand how important this is too, but instead I have to tell you that if you want this school built, we need to vote for Labor. The way I see it after that meeting, it is no longer a matter of trying to convince the Nationals to commit to building Huntlee High School, instead it is a matter of convincing the Upper Hunter electorate to vote for Labor. It’s estimated from previous results that the Nationals have a 0.5% margin in the Upper Hunter in this election - I’ve been told that means that there are only 600 votes in it. Now more than ever, your vote really counts. I had hoped that I would be able to step back out of this conversation, with both major parties doing everything that they can to help us, but instead we ALL need to keep talking. Yeah, maybe to Dave. But ESPECIALLY to your friends and neighbours and loved ones. I hate having to openly “pick sides”, and I hate having to make public declarations about who to vote for, but this is where we are now. If you love a kid that lives in Branxton, Huntlee, Greta, and surrounds, and care about their education and want this school built for them, please, please vote Labor. And hope that the rest of the state does too.