Parents took their frustration to the city streets last week calling for action on an autism school for the West. 72438 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
PARENTS of children with autism rallied together on the steps of parliament last week calling on the State Government to adhere to last year’s election promise and build a P-12 autistic school in the West.
Action for Autism Education member Danny Sorbello said parents are sick of waiting for a decision from the Minister of Education Martin Dixon as to whether the western suburbs will get its long awaited school.
Mr Sorbello said the small but enthusiastic crowd was fed up with inaction from the Baillieu Government.
“We’ve been fobbed off,” he said.
“Are we going to get a school?”
Mr Sorbello said the group wase initially ecstatic when they saw that $4 million had been allocated in the State Budget for a P-12 school in
the West.
“We’ve been getting the mixed messages since then,” he said.
“I’d like to think it was a well-considered decision because it was a good decision.”
Western Metropolitan Region MP Bernie Finn told Star there was no need for parents to be protesting.
“I wish they’d come and had a chat to me first, there is no need to protest,” he said.
“The school is going ahead.”
Despite not knowing where the school will be located or when building will start Mr Finn said it will be completed within the government’s first term.
“They (parents) don’t have to rally out the front of parliament – it was in the budget and if it’s in the budget it will happen,” he said.
“I absolutely understand their frustration, the previous government ignored them for over a decade.
“I want to reassure them the school is going to happen.
“The minister has given me a personal assurance that it will go ahead.”
