Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Boneo Primary School

Mr BRAYNE (Nepean) (19:17): (1375) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health, the Honourable Jenny Mikakos. The action I seek is for the minister to provide funding to my local school, Boneo Primary School, who applied for a school shade grant under the government’s SunSmart program—a superb program. This is a fantastic school. Principal Mandy Whitworth has been regularly in contact with me since I was elected, bringing up the needs of her school community. Like all schools on the Mornington Peninsula, Boneo has a really tight-knit community. The school—

Members interjecting.

Mr BRAYNE: There are a lot of interjections tonight; it is quite busy. The school, whose numbers have been growing year on year, has a great outdoor presence. However, they need some more shade. The shade grant program provides funding for new permanent shade for sun protection. We have plenty of sun on the Mornington Peninsula. It is vital that our kids are able to play outside with adequate shade available. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Shade used in combination with other sun protection measures provides the best protection from the harmful UV radiation exposure that is responsible for the majority of skin cancers. As a kid I remember my teachers continuously checking that we were wearing our wide green hats. A few of my rebel friends would often take them off or leave theirs in their lockers. I would not dare to not wear mine for fear of some form of recrimination from my teachers. While it was a complete fashion faux pas at the time, I know all my friends now recognise just how important it was for us to wear hats at school. Schools with shade, however, mean that those occasionally naughty kids are still protected or at least have somewhere for their teachers to send them when they have misplaced their hats. I look forward to the minister’s response.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the minister, the members for Box Hill and Nepean, your adjournment matters will be reviewed. It is a principle of the adjournment debate that matters raised cannot be raised by another member during the same debate. Since you both spoke to the same issue, we will need to review the actions requested, and we will get back to you.