Education will be a major campaign issue in the lead-up to the November state election, with the Nationals’ state conference supporting a motion for choice of secondary schools in City of Greater Shepparton.
Victorian Nationals Leader Peter Walsh used his keynote address to issue a warning to State Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed.
“We’ll make sure that we work with the community to exercise your choice to secondary education in this city,” Mr Walsh said.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe was formally announced as the endorsed Nationals candidate for Shepparton District at the conference, held at the GV Hotel in Shepparton at the weekend.
Ms O’Keeffe has been publicly supportive of Greater Shepparton Secondary College as mayor, but the Nationals’ policy is to offer greater choice.
Ms O’Keeffe said she supported choice and the repurposing of the old school sites.
“From day one I have been supportive of the school community and I will continue to do that, but I’ve never, ever agreed to one school, I just never got asked,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
Mr Walsh referred to a statement from Ms Sheed last week calling for the Liberals and Nationals to end their negative campaign against Greater Shepparton Secondary College, which she said was having an impact on students and staff.
“We will not be stifled, we will not be silenced on speaking up on the issues of Shepparton just because she thinks we shouldn’t say anything against it,” Mr Walsh said during his keynote address to the party faithful in Shepparton on Saturday.
“Suzanna Sheed, we will not be silenced by your criticism, we will actually stand up for the community of Shepparton and make sure they get choice into the future.”
During construction, and the first year of operation, the college has been the target of a political campaign over racism, bullying, school violence and alleged dissatisfaction of staff, students and families.
Ms Sheed, who backed the Shepparton Education Plan, was proud of the $140 million investment and the new combined campus, which replaced four underperforming secondary schools.
Ms O’Keeffe said she was informed there were no other nominations for preselection.
“It is good, I can get on with things,” she said.
The formal preselection will trigger changes at Greater Shepparton City Council.
Ms O’Keeffe said she would resign as mayor within a month but stay on as a councillor while appropriate to do so.