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Yesterday's Labor promise of a cash handout to school P&Cs, P&Fs and parents associations is too little too late, said Jane Tullis, Ginninderra candidate for the Community Alliance Party. "The various associations have been begging for more money for years, but it is only now, four weeks out from an election, that Labor sees fit to make an offer like this," said Mrs Tullis. Mrs Tullis says that real support should have been offered years ago, and the timing indicates that it might not be indicative of genuine Labor support for communities. "Obviously the Government is desperate to stem the tide against them at the upcoming election," she said. "The $350 million mantra of bricks and mortar budgeting for education is not proving to be the winner Labor had hoped." According to Mrs Tullis, there is a view that this is an insult to those communities still reeling from the loss of those schools that Labor has claimed over and over again that they couldn’t afford to keep open. "The Stanhope Government wouldn’t even reconsider re-opening the four schools of Cook, Flynn, Hall and Tharwa, despite massive community support and the most persuasive arguments and evidence, and yet now we find $2.1 million dollars up for grabs," she said. Mrs Tullis also says she is concerned about Labor’s ability to deliver, given the promises from the last election that were never kept. "These are the very same poeple who promised a dragway at the last election and no school closures. No dragway and 23 school closures later, the community is very much awake to political stunts such as this," she said. The Community Alliance will reopen Hall, Tharwa, Cook and Flynn without hesitation. The Alliance has also launched a comprehensive Education and Training Policy to support communities and address equity issues, teaching conditions, student behaviour, and the TAFE sector. "There are no stunt promises coming from us,” said Mrs Tullis “We offer open and transparent processes and a return to good governance. We don’t need to bribe our community: we include them in the decision-making process." Contact: Jane Tullis
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The Community Alliance Party is a dynamic alliance of ACT residents, community groups, and business people. We are seeking to establish balanced government and to make our Capital a better and more affordable place to live. We will achieve this through:
