Taskforce more showbiz than the Logies

Is Brad Orgill the new 'soft face' of the Government's school hall rip-off propaganda machine, Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education asked today.

"While Julia Gillard ducks for cover, Mr Orgill, arrayed in a hard hat and safety vest, was out holding a press conference yesterday, apparently 'launching' his investigation," Mr Pyne said.

"This $14 million investigation seems more 'showbiz' than the Logies. The only thing missing was a magnifying glass and deerstalker hat," he said.

Rather than tripping over television cables visiting 100 schools over the next three months, the taskforce needs to demand the contractual documentation of every primary school project in the country, and engage a team of experts who can identify waste.

A recent poll of principals highlighted the fact that around 60% of public schools were not even provided with the financial information about their projects. How will the taskforce find answers at schools that were kept in the dark from the outset?

Mr Orgill has also already ruled out suspending the program while he conducts his investigation. Has he already concluded that the problems are isolated on the first day?

The Government needs to get serious; billions are evaporating in what could be the most scandalous example of waste in Australian history.

Only a full judicial inquiry, which has the power to summon witnesses and subpoena documents, has any hope of getting to the bottom of the systemic rorting, price gouging, waste and mismanagement plaguing the school hall rip-off," Mr Pyne said.

May 4, 2010

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