Gayle Tierney MP has called on the Baillieu Government to come clean on its intentions for the Barwon Valley Special School.
Ms Tierney said the Baillieu Government had kept the community in the dark about its plans for the school, and had blocked attempts by the ALP to have these plans released.
When questioned by Ms Tierney and parents of the school on the current facilities at Barwon Valley, the Baillieu Government’s consistent response is that a review of special education in the Geelong and South Barwon region is under way.
Ms Tierney submitted an FOI request on documents relating to a special education review and the Barwon Valley Special School in September to find out more for the community.
However the Baillieu Government has refused to release three of four documents relating to a special school review.
One of the withheld documents was a briefing to the Minister for Education seeking approval of the findings of the special school review.
Ms Tierney has requested in the Parliament that the findings of this review be made public.
“The Minister must release the Special School report and its findings to assure students with a disability, their families and the Barwon Valley community that their needs are not being ignored by this Government,” Ms Tierney said.
“1,700 Geelong and Surfcoast residents have signed a petition calling on the Baillieu Government to address unacceptable conditions relating to schooling for students who have an intellectual disability in Geelong.
“This petition makes it perfectly clear the community are not satisfied with the facilities at the Barwon Valley Special School.
“However the Baillieu Government is sitting on a report which seeks approval of the findings of the Special School review and will not release its findings to the public.
“It begs the question, is the Government hiding something, or is it simply too lazy to address these issues which 1,700 people have expressed their concern for,” Ms Tierney said.