School Amalgamations

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (15:13): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Will the government give a commitment to parents at Pasadena High School that, if they vote to keep their school open, the government will ensure it stays open?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (15:13): Yes, I will. The idea of amalgamations in the process we are going through is that it is a voluntary process. If either Unley or Pasadena votes no in the current process, then we will accept that. Obviously, there may be circumstances in the future, such as zero enrolment, which would jeopardise that, but I am absolutely clear that this amalgamation process is a voluntary one. If parents at Pasadena or parents at Unley are not willing to go forward with it, then the power sits with them. They get to make that decision.