Record waste needs serious inquiry

The New South Wales Government needs to hold a judicial inquiry into the school hall programme after weekend reports that only 64 per cent of funding allocated to government schools was spent on building costs with the rest absorbed by management fees and other costs.

“Why did government schools in New South Wales receive only 64 per cent of value from the BER while NSW non-government schools got 90 per cent of value from their funding,” said Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education.

“Every parent of a child at a government school in NSW should be outraged that the former state Labor Government and the current Federal Labor Government let them down so badly.

“I have consistently maintained there is a clear need for a proper judicial inquiry into the waste and mismanagement in this programme.

“There is anecdotal evidence suggesting collusion, skimming and rorts. Only a judicial inquiry would have the power to dig down into this programme to find out what went on.

“The Prime Minister presided over the roll-out of the BER and is ultimately responsible for the waste and mismanagement. This was a once in a generation school infrastructure spend that ripped off government schools,” Mr Pyne said.

September 26, 2011

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