Riordan Calls On Schools To Re-Open

COVID -19 UPDATE

In a Member statement presented to the emergency sitting of the Victorian Parliament Polwarth MP Richard Riordan called on the State Government to work with country schools and communities to get schools back to full operation sooner rather than later.

The Prime Minister and Australian Chief Health officer, and most other States have declared the risk of Corona Virus to students and schools is very low. We are fast approaching the situation in Victoria when students can go back to school. The current plan to hibernate the whole term will be detrimental to the most needy and vulnerable students Mr Riordan told Parliament -"We know country students are often at an educational disadvantage at the best of times, but slow internet,, slow mail and fewer resources will, if prolonged longer than is necessary only lead to greater disadvantage for students in Polwarth.

I call on the Government to work with school communities to get schools back as soon as possible. ,r The Member for Polwarth also used his statement to thank the huge network of health and community Wlorkers across the region who have helped keep the virus spread, and spoke of the huge task ahead in rebuilding the regions visitor economy, which has been devastated by closures and a lack of domestic and international visitors.

The Parliament \Vas also reminded that the Government needs to do a I it can to ensure Polwarth's rich agricultural outputs are not hindered or held up as the season unfolds, as they will be a huge driver of economic recovery for our region and the State.

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