By Vanessa Chircop
A WAR of words has broken out between Western Metropolitan Greens MLC Colleen Hartland and Member for Western Metropolitan Region Bernie Finn.
Ms Hartland has accused Mr Finn of ducking his responsibility to cuts to the Innovative Developments in the Education of Children with Autism (IDEA) program.
The program, which was launched in 2010 at Moomba Park Primary School in Fawkner, provides support for children with autism enrolled at the mainstream government school.
“Bernie Finn wants to blame public servants for funding cuts, but he is part of the Baillieu Government and it is the Baillieu Government that is cutting funding to the IDEA program at Moomba Park Primary School,” Ms Hartland said.
“The Baillieu Government, of which Bernie Finn is a member, also has the power to roll out IDEA to primary schools across the Western Suburbs and Victoria.”
Mr Finn, who has been quoted as saying he would like to see this program extended to schools in the West, has retaliated accusing Ms Hartland of playing “petty politics”.
“‘She (Ms Hartland) sees children with autism as nothing but a cheap tool with which she can promote herself,” he said.
“I raised this matter weeks ago because of my deep concern about the future of children and families who need every bit of help they can get.”
However Ms Hartland disagrees, going as far as to say Mr Finn should take a stand and resign from the Liberal Party if he doesn’t support his party’s decision.
