Joanne Ryan, Federal Member for Lalor, was pleased that the Shadow Assistant Minister for Education, Amanda Rishworth was able to join her today for a meeting at Little River Primary School to discuss the impact of the Abbott Government’s cuts to the School’s Out of School Hours Care program.

Little River is now classified as being part of a major city, a classification that has left many bemused and confused.

This reclassification will see $16,000 ripped out of the Little River Primary School, putting into doubt the school’s ability to remain open in 2015 to meet the needs of Little River families.

The school has collected several hundred signatures on a petition calling for the funding to be restored. This shows the value the Little River community places on the school and the essential service it provides.

Joanne has raised this issue in the Federal Parliament and written to the Assistant Minister for Education, Sussan Ley, several times to seek a waiver to the classification.

“I even invited the Minister to visit the school when she was in the electorate this week. The Minister was unavailable so I was very pleased that Labor’s Shadow Assistant Minister, Amanda Rishworth, was able to make time to meet with community members” said Joanne Ryan.

Joanne Ryan and Amanda Rishworth have committed to continue to fight for the funding to be restored to Little River Primary School and hope common sense will prevail.