[dropcap]A[/dropcap] NSW Labor Government will take back $300 million from the Berejiklian Government’s multi-billion dollar stadium re-build splurge to air-condition hundreds of public schools, including local schools in the Macarthur region.
A year out from the election, Labor Leader Luke Foley announced the policy at the Schools and Hospitals Before Stadiums campaign launch, which also guarantees all new schools will be built with air-conditioning in all classrooms.
Local Labor MPs who have been voicing concerns on the lack of funding for school maintenance and other needs have welcomed the policy.
Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong, said Labor’s air conditioning policy would give local students the best possible learning environment.
“Our summers are getting hotter and our students and teachers don’t deserve to be sitting in stifling classrooms and sweltering through lessons,’’ he said.
Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said “our children and students deserve the best schools for the best education possible’’.
“I’m proud that Labor is putting the needs of our local students before stadiums.”
In announcing the policy, Mr Foley said a Labor Government in NSW would conduct an air-conditioning audit of the state’s 2,000-plus primary and secondary schools, and priority will be given to those schools with the hottest temperatures.
It is expected that up to 600 schools across the state will benefit from the policy, and schools in Western and South West Sydney will be among the first to receive air-conditioning.
The costs of running the air-conditioning will be largely offset by Labor’s commitment to expand the rollout of solar panels on school roofs.
Cool Schools is the next step in Labor’s commitment to put schools and hospitals before stadiums.
“Our local schools are crying out for air conditioning,’’ says Mr Chanthivong.
“Parent and Citizen groups have been taking on the heavy burden themselves through fundraising efforts. “But the few hundred dollars these groups raise through cake stalls and sausage sizzles only goes so far and Labor’s policy will take the burden off mums and dads whose budgets and resources are already stretched.’’
