The Western Australia government plan to seize City of Perth land to build a $150 million inner-city primary school expected to be running by 2029 to ease overcrowding in the state’s public school system.
The Labor state government and the City of Perth have been entangled in a dispute over the future of East Perth Primary School for months.
Perth Lord Mayor and Liberal Party candidate, Basil Zempilas has criticised the state government’s decision, accusing them of bullying and stealing.
“Every time this state government doesn’t get its own way, they spit the dummy, and change legislation to bully their way through,” Zempilas said on social media platform X.
“They should not use their position of power to effectively steal people’s land. West Australians should be horrified by this government’s conduct… Where will it stop? The arrogance of absolute power…
“They are taking land they valued at $40 million off the ratepayers of the City of Perth — for nothing. This is outrageous.”
WA Education Minister Tony Buti said his government had been in “constant” negotiations with the city since April 2023. He’s hoping the school will be open for the first day of term in 2029 and blamed the council for the delay.
Source: ABC News.
