Keira MP Ryan Park has hit out at the NSW government's refusal to remove barbed wire fences from two schools in his electorate.
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"I'm disappointed because I think in 2019 there should be plans to remove barbed wire fencing," he said.
"I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have it on a school in downtown Lane Cove or somewhere else like that.
"We understand the need for school fencing, completely understand that but in 2019 that shouldn't and doesn't need to include the barbed wire fencing that unfortunately is at Bellambi [Public School] and at Corrimal [High School].
It is 2019, we don't need to set up schools like they are prisons.
- Keira MP Ryan Park
"It is 2019, we don't need to set up schools like they are prisons.
"Barbed wire is always associated with a general level of enforcement, that's not what we want in school buildings and school grounds, we want them as inviting and as open as possible."
Responding to questions asked by Mr Park, the Department of Education advised that some of the barbed wire fencing at Corrimal High School had been removed through a school funded project.
The Department though said there "are no current plans to upgrade the fencing at Bellambi Public School", adding it would provide assistance with a project should a funding source be identified.
This did not satisfy Mr Park, who said schools should not be required to fund new fences.
"From an aesthetics point of view it is not acceptable," he said.
"If we are going to have fencing then it should be the traditional fencing that is around all schools now, which is certainly not barbed wire fencing."
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
