Hartcher claims cuts in funding

The State Government has taken back more than $24,000 that could have been spent on student disability services at Empire Bay Public School, according to Shadow Minister for the Central Coast Mr Chris Hartcher.

Mr Hartcher said a recent Freedom of Information request by the NSW Liberal-Nationals revealed the State Government had taken back almost $12 million in unspent funds from schools under the Funding Support (Students with Disabilities) program.

He said Empire Bay, along with other Central Coast schools, were being robbed of more than $150,000.

He demanded the Rees Labor Government give student disability funding back to Central Coast schools.

"Cutting $12 million from kids with disabilities is a despicable act by an out-of-touch State Labor Government," Mr Hartcher said.

"The latest decision by the incompetent Rees Labor Government will see several local schools lose thousands of dollars in student disability funding."

"Nathan Rees is willing to talk about spending $1 billion to improve acoustics at the Opera House, but will let kids with disabilities in our public schools go without."

Press release, 12 May 2009 Chris Hartcher, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast