Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Mildura electorate

Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (15:00): (988) My question is for the Minister for Education. Why is the minister happy to allow the children and staff of Koorlong Primary School to go without shade in the hottest school in the state? Koorlong Primary School is a bushfire at-risk school because of the southern boundary that runs alongside Koorlong State Forest. Last year the audit team removed all of the trees within a 10-metre radius of the school, understanding safety. However, it has been an unusually hot summer this year. For the last five years the school has applied for grants to have shade structures over the basketball court and over their playground, and for the last five years they have been told, ‘Not this year – unsuccessful. Try again next year.’ Further to that, there is a school in Shepparton about the same size that has three play structures. So why is the minister okay with kids in Koorlong not having shade?

The SPEAKER: I would ask the member for Mildura to rephrase her question. In retrospect, looking at the question here, she has asked for an opinion. If the question is why, just ask why. Could you rephrase the question.

Jade BENHAM: When will Koorlong Primary School have the shade structure that they have applied for?