Parliamentary records show NSW Liberals had different attitude towards Medowie school plan when in opposition

According to Hansard records, there have been at least two occasions in the past decade when Liberal MPs have advocated for a new high school to be built at Medowie.

Robyn Parker, who was serving in the NSW upper house at the time but would later become the Member for Maitland, advocated for the school a decade ago.

“Will the Minister explain to the families in Medowie and Tilligerry Peninsula why they are waiting for a high school to be built at Medowie and their children are travelling considerable distances each day to the nearest high school when there has been [land] vacant and available to start construction of this school next to the existing public school in Medowie?” Mrs Parker asked in Parliament on June 5, 2007.

On June 1, 2010, Port Stephens MP Craig Baumann told Parliament he saw a “genuine need” for a new school at Medowie and it was “one of the most important issues in my electorate”.

“In 2007 this issue was a hot election topic but since then, like most other pre-election promises made by this [Labor] government, nothing has happened,” Mr Baumann said.

Both Mrs Parker and Mr Baumann have since left Parliament.

The government has criticised Labor’s recent announcement that it will build the school if elected in 2019.

When asked about the comments of previous Liberal members, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald reiterated his stance against the need for the new school.

“Various Members of Parliament have made comments about the need for a Medowie High School over the last decade or more,” he said.

“However the 2009 Department of Education report was very clear about the lack of case for a new high school. 

“The rush for a necessarily small [public] high school is completely at odds with the best education environment attracting the best teachers.”