Liberal National Party (LNP) Leader Deb Frecklington visited Bribie Island State School on Thursday, September 12th to announce a promise for air-conditioning in every state school classroom if she wins the next state election.
Bribie Island State School will be among the first schools to receive air-conditioning as part of the LNP’s plan for Queensland if they win.
Bribie Island Parent & Citizens Association (P&C) President Leanne White and Event Coordinator Natashia Peters were present for the announcement and extremely supportive. At current, the P&C are fund-raising themselves to get air-conditioning for the school buildings.
Ms Frecklington said she decided to prioritise the school after LNP Member for Pumicestone Simone Wilson said it urgently needed an air-conditioning fix.
“By way of background, so years and years ago the Government brought in, it was the old Nationals Government… they brought in the air-conditioning program and then a Labour Government cut it off. And, so the line now sits around Gladstone so any school under Gladstone doesn’t automatically get air-conditioned under the Labour policy, they expect the hardworking P&Cs to do it. So, that’s why we have determined to get back to basics and make sure that our schools are air-conditioned,” Ms Frecklington said.
“I can tell you that here on Bribie Island it gets bloody hot in Summer… it gets really hot in my patch around Kingaroy as well, so the Caboolture schools, for example, Bribie Island, all these schools you would find the classrooms would reach over 40°c on a Summer’s day and that’s unacceptable for the teachers and for the kids.”
“The LNP knows that cool kids are smart kids and that’s why we will air-condition every single state school classroom if we win the next election.
“I want the dedicated teachers and amazing students at Bribie Island State School to work in the best possible conditions.”
Opened in 1924 Bribie Island State School was the first school on the island and offers an inclusive curriculum for students from prep to year 6.
Ms Wilson said Bribie Island State School, which has around 660 students, is the oldest school in the Pumicestone electorate.
“I don’t think it should be left to mums and dads to raise the money to air-condition classrooms,” Ms Wilson said.
“I think the State Government should invest in cooler state schools and that is exactly what the LNP will do if we win the next election.
“Our kids and teachers shouldn’t be left to sweat through the summer.”
