Yvonne Breitkreutz, 72, reckons the people who would close down her old school are a bunch of grubs.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is a little more diplomatic but cites the possible closure of Nyanda High in Brisbane by Queensland's Liberal National government as a taste of what Australians could expect under Tony Abbott.
Ms Breitkreutz and Mr Rudd both took to the podium outside the school grounds for an early morning protest on Tuesday.
Mrs Breitkreutz, the oldest former student at the rally, said some "grubs" burnt down St Mary's Catholic Primary School at Beaudesert.
"What's the difference between those grubs and the grubs that want to destroy our school?" she said.
Nyanda High is slated for possible closure by the Queensland government. State education minister John-Paul Langbroek, whose sister Kate attended Nyanda, has called for submissions.
But Mr Rudd said "cut cut cut" is what all of Australia can expect under a federal coalition government.
To rousing cheers from the audience of students, parents and Labor supporters, he said under Labor's education plan, Nyanda would face a bright future with additional funding of up $2 million.
"That's the big difference," the prime minister said.
"Across the nation, our investment is $15 billion. Mr Abbott is going to rip $8 billion.
"If we are going to build Australia's schools for the future you have got to invest in their future."
