Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (19:59): One of my favourite tasks as the local MP is visiting our local public schools, meeting young people from the electorate and hearing about their great and wonderful achievements. Indeed, it brings me much joy to see their faces light up when they talk about all they are learning and their aspirations for the future. Education is the key to success, which is why the delivery of schools to our growing communities is a priority of the Labor Government.
Since being elected in 2015, I have witnessed enormous growth in my electorate and the surrounding areas. I have seen the ongoing fight for infrastructure and services to support our growing communities. Over many years residents of Edmondson Park and Bardia have fought long and hard for local schools, and I am delighted that the community's efforts are finally paying off. I have met and spoken with many parents who have been frustrated that local public schools were delayed, or in some instances non-existent, under the former Liberal Government. The delivery of school infrastructure did not keep pace with the growing population in my local community.
In July I had the immense pleasure of visiting Edmondson Park Public School with the Premier and Deputy Premier. The public school finally opened earlier this year, and further facilities were recently added, including 16 new learning spaces, outdoor game courts and a car park. The primary school can accommodate up to 1,000 kindergarten to year 6 students and provides before and after school care. A recent welcome addition is a preschool on the grounds of the public school that gives local families convenient access to child care.
The Government's recent announcement of a public high school in Edmondson Park is an exciting development. The high school will be built on government land adjacent to the primary school. The delivery of a high school will mean children in the area can attend school locally from preschool right through to year 12, giving students the best public education opportunities close to their home. The high school will accommodate up to 800 students initially, with provision for up to 2,000 students in the future.
Students in south-west Sydney deserve every opportunity to achieve success, and that starts with having access to the best education. Every child should have the right to attend a school in their local area. My community waited too long under the former Government for that right to be realised. After more than a decade of neglect by the former Liberal Government, and a long community campaign, the Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering long overdue infrastructure.
I look forward to seeing plans for the new high school progressing so that, once students finish primary school, they will not have to look far to start their secondary education. Growing communities such as Edmondson Park and Bardia have strongly advocated over the years for infrastructure, whether it be for schools or more commuter car parking. Delivering much-needed infrastructure is one of my key priorities for the Macquarie Fields electorate. Our community deserves its fair share, and it looks forward to seeing the next steps in the delivery of a long‑awaited high school for Edmondson Park.
The foundation of our schools may be bricks and mortar, but at the heart of our schools are dedicated teachers who provide opportunities to learn and grow and who inspire the next generation. Of course, New South Wales teachers are now the highest paid in the country after the Government secured an historic pay rise for 95,000 New South Wales teachers. Education is the foundation upon which we build our future. Today year 12 students around the State completed their first HSC exam, and I take this opportunity to wish them all the best as they continue their lifelong journey of learning. Their future awaits, and I look forward to seeing all that our young people can achieve at our local schools—now and into the future.
