With all the discussion about increasing housing density in the inner city and eastern suburbs, we need to plan for new public high schools. Both Inner Sydney and Rose Bay schools are already at capacity with many families close to the schools outside of catchments. If we don’t plan now, there will be no available land left to meet future needs.

I recently met with the Minister for Education with federal member for Wentworth Allegra Spender and state member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neal about high school needs in the east and with the Ultimo parents and citizens about high school needs in the inner city. Last week in Parliament I asked the minister for an update on her work to improve high school access. The minister said that the School Infrastructure team is reviewing the needs of the Pyrmont community and those areas east of the CBD. She acknowledged the challenges with land but made a commitment to work with us to consider creative options to increase capacity.

Read my question and the minister’s response > HERE or watch > HERE. I’ll continue to work with the minister and local MPs to get more public high school places.