Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett has stood up in Parliament in a desperate bid to save a child’s life on behalf of the Bargara State School community.
Mr Bennett accused the Minister and his government of failing children by ignoring the Bargara community’s urgent pleas for safety pedestrian upgrades along busy Bargara-Hughes Rd Intersection.
“Primary School aged children are playing Russian Roulette along this busy road to get to Bargara State School, and I’m sad to say that I have heard from many witnesses who report nears misses every week at this intersection,” Mr Bennett told Parliament.
“Bargara State School is one of very few schools that doesn’t have a formal crossing in place – no lollipop supervisor or traffic lights in sight, despite an ever-increasing population.
“We have a situation where a Year 6 student is playing lollipop lady along this busy road, often herding groups of half a dozen across two sides of the road on their bikes.”
Mr Bennett said it was inexcusable that an 11-year-old was taking on this responsibility of protecting other children because the Minister and his government failed to do so.
“Isn’t it our job as representatives of the community to keep our kids safe?,” Mr Bennett said.
“Every day Minister Mark Bailey arrogantly dismisses the urgent pleas of parents, teachers and students, is another day a child’s life is placed at risk.
“The bureaucratic response that there aren’t enough kids crossing that road to warrant a designated pedestrian crossing simply doesn’t cut it.
“It’s cruel and offensive that the Minister’s department doesn’t consider dozens of children’s lives worthy of protecting by implementing essential safety measures.”
Mr Bennett said the Minister hadn’t taken into consideration that more parents would be willing to let their children walk or ride to school if a designated, safe pedestrian crossing was installed.
“I call on this Labor Government to stop ignoring these pleas and act immediately to upgrade the Bargara-Hughes Rd intersection before our worst fears are realised,” the Burnett MP told Parliament.
“Until such time, this government is failing our kids.”
ENDS.
25 February 2021