Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Auburn South Primary School

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (22:19): (1214) Tonight I rise to give voice to the shared grief being experienced right across my community of Southern Metropolitan Region and in particular in the electorate of Hawthorn and the community of Auburn South Primary School. I am sure everyone in this chamber tonight is aware the community and families of Auburn South Primary School have experienced incredible tragedy and grief this afternoon. While it is too early to understand the full circumstances of the devastating events, what is clear is that this afternoon emergency services attended a single-vehicle crash in Hawthorn East, in a community that I know very well and in a community that I am honoured to represent along with Mr Batchelor, Mr Davis, Ms Crozier, Ms Copsey and Mr Pesutto, who I know are sharing in the community’s grief this evening. My heart goes out to the family of the young boy who tragically passed.

There is little I can say tonight that has not already been said. The pain of the community of Auburn South Primary School will not soon be forgotten. I know tonight that all Victorians, and particularly those in my community of Southern Metro, will be thinking about Auburn South. But what little I can say is this: in the weeks to come it is important that we come together as a community to support those affected. And to those students, their families, the teachers and the first responders: we will be with you every step of the way. That is why the action that I seek is for the Deputy Premier, the Minister for Education in the other place, to visit Auburn South Primary School over the coming weeks to be with them all the way during this difficult time.