School camp owner calls on State Government to ‘please consult with the industry’

The owner of a recreation camp in Waroona has had to sack 20 of his staff after 30 school bookings were cancelled due to the state governments announcement that camps can not go ahead.
Forest Edge Recreation Camp Owner, Graeme Watson, says having to get rid of his staff was incredibly difficult.
“Some of these staff are under the age of 21 living at home, so there is no unemployment benefits for them either,” he told Oliver Peterson.
Mr Watson had to rebuild his business from scratch after the Waroona Bushfires in 2016. The camp usually takes around 80 bookings a year from schools and groups from around the state.
Speaking with 6PR’s Gareth Parker, Education Minister Sue Ellery says school camps have been difficult to sort out.
“Camps are really tricky because it’s close contact, eating together, sleeping together, sharing a common bathroom,” she said.
Mr Watson is calling on the State Government to change it’s decision on school camps.
“Please consult with the industry. Please reconsider the decision you’ve made so we can move and be in line with the national curriculum. I’m sure if there are any issues, they can be resolved,” he said.
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