Thursday, 6 March 2025

Manorvale Primary School

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (18:24): (1502) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Education, and it concerns commitments made before the last election for the Manorvale Primary School community in Werribee in my electorate, which the Allan Labor government has yet to deliver. The action I seek is for the Deputy Premier to revisit the funding pledge of $12.1 million made by the former member for Werribee to Manorvale Primary School and to deliver on their commitments in this year’s budget. This Labor government pledged that if elected they would provide Manorvale Primary School in my electorate with $12.1 million for urgent maintenance and building repairs that the school has been needing for a long time. The building works would consist of a new entrance to the school, an administration building and four new specialist spaces – visual art and technology, a library, a storage room and first aid – and would fix a building that contains asbestos. The funding would see the start of demolition of the building containing asbestos and the construction of the new classroom and library. The school has patiently waited for confirmation from the Department of Education and the Allan government that they have funded these important works, as promised. I understand the former member for Werribee visited the school as recently as last August to hear about their concerns but failed to deliver on his promise before resigning from his role in December. I hope the new member for Werribee will make this matter a priority and demand answers from this Labor government about the cause of the delay in delivering for this school in my community.

The delay in funding has resulted in the school making short-term fixes to major issues that arise, meaning the students and teaching staff are walking on uneven floors and enduring water leaks from ceilings across the school. In 2025 it is unacceptable that a school must endure such substandard facilities. Our students and our teachers and staff deserve better. Manorvale Primary School simply ask the government to commit to the full $12.1 million in funding they promised and deliver every cent in the May budget. I strongly urge the Labor government to provide this funding they promised to my constituents at the wonderful Manorvale Primary School.