Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, says young Queenslanders will have a brighter future under a re-elected LNP Government, with plans to build new schools and new classrooms in growing areas announced on the weekend.

Mr Cripps said the next generation of Queenslanders were our most valuable resource and their education was vital to building a strong future for the State.

“Queensland’s population continues to grow strongly and with that growth in those communities comes a need to provide more schools and classrooms so our young people can get the best possible education” Mr Cripps said.

“If the LNP Government is re-elected, we will set aside $1 billion through our Strong Choices plan to enable the construction of up to 22 new schools across Queensland, which is a huge investment in the education sector” he said.

Mr Cripps said the location of the new schools would be determined with the advice and assistance of the Queensland Schools Planning Commission (QSPC) and the Department of Education.

“As well as providing investment in new schools, the fund will also be used to build or upgrade hundreds of classrooms at existing schools across Queensland” said Mr Cripps.

“Unfortunately, Labor had no plan to accommodate this growth and instead, left our schools in disrepair, which failed to provide young Queenslanders with the learning environment they needed to succeed,” he said.

“The LNP immediately moved to fix Labor’s school maintenance backlog, which in the Hinchinbrook electorate, has meant $4.8 million to school P&Cs to fix peeling paint, rusty downpipes and cracked footpaths” said Mr Cripps.

Mr Cripps said only a re-elected LNP Government could deliver the strong economic management to afford to plan for, fund and deliver the schools Queensland needs to revitalise frontline services in local communities.