Thursday, 24 September 2026

 Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (18:55): (1863) I have an important matter to bring to the minister’s attention for the end of the 60th Parliament that I need addressing. My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to immediately halt the closure and demolition of the Warrnambool College swimming pool and to give the community the time and respect they are asking for to develop a solution.

The Victorian Labor government’s treatment of South-West Coast is disgraceful. For the Victorian Labor government to make this decision behind closed doors and then for the community to be informed of the decision with no warning and no consultation and to be given no opportunity to find a solution is despicable. The anger is overwhelming. In just 36 hours over 2000 people signed a paper petition – many more wanted to, including people who travelled to Warrnambool to use the pool but were away or could not get to sign the forms – and 500 people gathered on Sunday morning to rally with only 48 hours notice. Yet this government acts as though our community’s voice does not matter. Yesterday members of the swimming pool community met with the government and asked for a copy of the report that informed this decision. That request was denied. The community has paid for this report through its taxes. The secrecy is an added insult to an already appalling decision. It is fair to ask: what is the government hiding that they will not release this report?

Around 1400 children a week use this pool, and virtually all the schools in the district depend on it for swimming lessons. If it closes, those schools will have nowhere with the capacity to take their students. The council’s pool is already full and in need of urgent works. We live on the coast. Swimming lessons teach skills that can save a child’s life. The pool supports lifesaver training, and people with disabilities and residents use the swimming pool for health and rehabilitation. This is a community facility, and the Victorian Labor government is treating it as though it can be erased without consequence. Since 2017 the Victorian Labor government has mandated in its own curriculum swimming and water safety education from foundation to year 10. This very same government’s sheer stupidity in requiring schools to teach the skills and closing the pool at the same time makes absolutely no sense – in fact it beggars belief.

The community is not asking for the impossible. It is asking for the report, a chance to be heard and time to find a solution. Instead it has been met with secrecy, arrogance and a bulldozer. If elected in November, a Liberal government will halt this closure and give the community the time they deserve. 2250 people have already put their name to this fight. Warrnambool will not be ignored.