DEPUTY Federal Labor leader Tanya Plibersek will visit Logan today to pledge big spends on schools, health and community services if Labor wins the next Federal election.
The spend under a Bill Shorten led Labor government would include:
- $25.8 million in funding for 27 Rankin primary, high and special schools and health in Logan under a Bill Shorten led Labor government
- $8 million for world-leading maternal health and community services for two new projects at Griffith University. These include:
- a $5 million new Griffith Centre for Strong Foundations, a world-class research, teaching and health service at the Logan campus focussed on pregnancy, birth and the first two years of a child’s life
- $3 million to set up a new Regional Innovation Data Lab at the Griffith University Logan campus. The new cutting edge facility will use data from government and business to improve services and planning for the local community
Ms Plibersek will also visit Browns Plains State School to announce a $2 million spend over the next five years to reverse Prime minister Scott Morrison’s 2017 budget decision to cease all funding for Life Education, the iconic health education program and its mascot Healthy Harold the Giraffe.
The next election is expected to be held before May 2018. Prime minister Scott Morrison visited Coomera and Beenleigh some weeks ago.
Ms Plibersek joins Barton MP Linda Burney and Rankin MP Dr Jim Chalmers for a forum called What Would the Opposition Do at ChangeFest 2018, bringing welfare workers from all over Australia and New Zealand to talk about social equity, change and how to create a level playing field for children, youth and the disadvantaged at Logan Entertainment Centre.
Logan has one of the youngest populations in Australia. The average is 34 and even lower in growth suburbs like Flagstone and Yarrabiliba where families are moving to take advantage of affordable housing.
ChangeFest brings together about 600 delegates and 90 speakers to talk about social equity, change and ways to provide a level playing for all children.
Local schools set to benefit include Browns Plains State High School – $1,390,000 better off in the first three years of a Shorten led Labor government, Marsden State School – $1,14 million better off and Crestmead State School – $1.61 million better off.
Mr Chalmers said every student in every Rankin state school would be better off under the plan.
“Parents and teachers know what this could mean for their children: more one on one attention, an extra teacher or teacher aide,” he said.
“This funding will give schools the resources they need to help students master the basics such as reading, writing, maths, and science, and offer a broader range of subjects including languages, coding, the arts, and vocational education.
“Our extra investment will transform state schools across Rankin and give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter where they live, or how much their parents earn.”
Ms Plibersek said Australian schools should be the best in the world and every Australian child deserved the best start in life.
“.. for parents to have real choice, governments have a responsibility to make sure our state schools are second to none,” she said.
RANKIN SCHOOLS SET TO BENEFIT FROM A FUNDING BOOST
Stretton State College $2,460,000
Calamvale Community College $2,110,000
Woodridge State High School $1,890,000
Crestmead State School $1,610,000
Browns Plains State High School $1,390,000
Kingston State College $1,250,000
Yugumbir State School $1,180,000
Marsden State School $1,140,000
Springwood State High School $1,050,000
Mabel Park State High School $1,010,000
Woodridge State School $960,000
Algester State School $930,000
Burrowes State School $870,000
Mabel Park State School: $850,000
Kingston State School: $720,000
Woodridge North State School: $700,000
Chatswood Hills State School: $680,000
Browns Plains State School: $670,000
Regents Park State School: $670,000
Harris Fields State School: $560,000
Springwood Road State School: $560,000
Calamvale Special School: $520,000
Berrinba East State School: $490,000
Rochedale South State School: $480,000
Logan City Special School: $450,000
Springwood Central State School: $340,000
Slacks Creek State School: $260,000
Electorate Total: $25,800,000
