MP taken to VCAT over super school risks
The government is taking an opposition MP to VCAT over her attempts to expose the risks of a controversial super school opening next week.
Education
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The government is taking an opposition MP to VCAT over her attempts to expose the risks of a controversial super school opening next week.
Wendy Lovell was refused access to risks identified with Greater Shepparton College through Freedom of Information.
The plan will see four schools merged into one campus to create the largest school in Victoria of up to 2700 students.
But the independent Victorian Information Commissioner overruled the government’s refusal, ordering it to release eight pages of identified risks to the Liberal member for Northern Victoria.
The government is now attempting to block access again, taking the minister to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), claiming that “disclosure would be contrary to the public interest”.
Ms Lovell labelled the government’s action “an extraordinary and desperate step to prevent the risk management plan from being released to the public”.
“The community has the right to be fully informed of the risks before this decision was made for them — not by them,” she said.
The controversial plan has led to protests, emergency community meetings and fierce opposition by students and parents in the Shepparton region.
The first phase of the plan will launch next week, with students from four schools merged and distributed across three sites while Shepparton High is torn down and replaced over two years.
When the new Greater Shepparton College is complete in 2022, three schools being McGuire, Mooroopna Secondary and Wanganui Park will close with all students to attend the one site.
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Public Access Deputy Commissioner Joanne Kummrow ordered the risk management documents be released to Ms Lovell.
She ruled that “disclosure of the risks identified will likely contribute to greater public scrutiny, and community participation in the implementation of the Shepparton Education Plan.”
A Department of Education spokeswoman said it sought a review of the decision “as is standard practice”.
“As the matter is before VCAT we are unable to comment further,” she said.
The Victorian Government has committed $21.5 million to the Shepparton Education Plan, of an estimated $120 million required.
A directions hearing has been scheduled at VCAT on February 17.