Tuesday, 30 April 2024

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:57): (799) My question is to the Minister for Children, the Honourable Lizzie Blandthorn, and I am pleased to see that she is in the house today. I am sure the minister has had correspondence in relation to community concern about the impending closure of the Erica kindergarten in my electorate. Servicing the Erica community and a feeder service for the Rawson Primary School, the Erica Preschool is at risk of closure in 2025 because the current provider, Y Kinders, is pulling out. The community is highly distressed, and with the closure of the native timber industry, again, that community is quite vulnerable. The next closest kinder from Erica is over 30 kilometres away. Rural children certainly deserve the best opportunities, just as their city peers do, and they need to have that service remain open. So my question is: will the minister work collectively with the community, Wayne Farnham, me and the Baw Baw shire to keep Erica kinder open?