North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Nicholas McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:53): (90) My question is in respect to education, and in particular school camps. For some weeks now I have had the great opportunity to speak with any number of parents but also principals and teachers, and, alarmingly, time and again in every school I visit the concern expressed to me, a very grave concern, is because of recent changes that have occurred students increasingly throughout Victoria are unable to either attend camp because the fees are so high, or, more concerningly, teachers are now being assigned to attend camps but are having to cut education and programs because of the cost. I ask the minister: would the minister and the government please urgently investigate the cost-shifting that has occurred in respect to camps, because it appears to me that children in Victoria are increasingly missing out on those vital opportunities at precisely the time we want to encourage them.