Future generations of children from across south west Sydney are being robbed of the opportunity to study agriculture locally following the Baird Liberal Government’s controversial decision to sell off Hurlstone Agricultural High School’s farm and move the school at Glenfield more than 50 kilometres away to a new site in the Hawkesbury region.

These are the views of the State Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong MP, whose ‘Hands Off Hurlstone’ message has not yet swayed the Baird Liberal Government despite a vigorous fight to protect the farm and retain the school at Glenfield. Mr Chanthivong’s Bill to the NSW Parliament to protect the future of Hurlstone at Glenfield was defeated last week, but he didn’t miss an opportunity to highlight the Education Minister’s hypocrisy over the sell-off.

In his speech to Parliament, Mr Chanthivong labeled Mr Piccoli a ‘Master magician’ for his spin.

“He deserves an Olympic gold medal for his backflip on the school, which he so publicly defended back in Opposition in 2009,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“Hurlstone is another broken commitment by the Baird Liberal Government, another greedy land grab, and yet another insulting snub to our community,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“Future generations of children from south west Sydney are set to lose out on an agricultural education at a school with an enviable reputation and a functioning farm all because Piccoli and his cohorts couldn’t see past their own stunts and spin.

“The biggest winners are the property developers, who get to carve up our school all because Mr Baird and Mr Piccoli sold out our community.

“Hurlstone’s legacy in the south west is irreplaceable and our kids deserve better. I will always fight for our community’s fair share, and a fair go for local children.”