By JESSE GRAHAM
However Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe has slammed the announcement as a “media stunt” and said that no provider had yet to come to the site.
Mr Andrews made the announcement earlier today to residents, former Swinburne students and campaigners against the closure, and said that, if elected, Labor would do all in its power to re-open the site.
“We will re-open Swinburne Lilydale and ensure that it is forever a centre of learning, a centre of knowledge, somewhere where kids in this local community can get those precious skills so that they get a quality start to life, and can make a contribution to their local community and to our state,” Mr Andrews said.
Ms Fyffe said the announcement to re-open the stricken site was a stunt with “no substance”.
“It’s a media stunt, pure and simple,” she said.
“There is no mention of a higher education provider who has committed to coming to Lilydale.”
According to Monbulk MP James Merlino, expressions of interest are currently being sought for the site, but Mr Andrews addressed this in his speech to the massed group.
“I give fair warning to anyone thinking of buying these buildings – they are not for sale.”
He said there was the potential for the site to be compulsorily reacquired if it was sold off before the election.
Swinburne University of Technology will not be the service provider operating at the site, if Labor’s pledge is followed through.
Mr Merlino said that, in his 12 years in parliament, no issue had been greater in the outer-eastern area and said young people should not have to commute to the city to study.
In July last year, Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall said the Coalition was committed to have vocational and higher education delivered at the former Swinburne campus.
For the full story, see next week’s Mail.
