SCHOOL FACILITIES

Ms SIMMONS (Morialta) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Education and Children's Services. What action is the government taking to improve facilities at state schools?

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education and Children's Services, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:52): I thank the member for Morialta for her question. She knows that in 2002 our schools faced an infrastructure maintenance backlog, and we have worked very hard to reduce that problem. Our first large initiative was an extra $25 million, which we called the School Pride program, which invested money in schools around the state and was the largest and significant one-off injection of maintenance funding in over a decade.

I am delighted to announce that I have recently approved a program, which is a new initiative, which brings our overall investment in school capital works and maintenance since coming to power to $655 million. Under this newest program announced, the South Australian government will allocate $36 million of school asset maintenance funds over three years. Our aim with this targeted funding is to deal with certain specific issues, and we particularly targeted roof replacement and repairs, plant heating/cooling replacement and upgrades, pavement replacement and upgrading of hard play areas, as well as car parks. We have targeted asbestos removal, and there is a particular investment in bushfire prevention for schools in high fire risk areas.

In addition, science laboratory upgrades have been recommended, in line with occupational health and safety requirements in laboratories, and we will demolish or remove those surplus relocatable buildings that are both unsightly and difficult to maintain. In addition, in a new scheme, in which we have not to date invested money, we will be supporting maintenance of community childcare centres, because we know that many of them struggle to maintain their facilities, some of which are quite old.

Our school facilities are also being improved under the Schools Capital Works program, which includes construction projects for new schools, new buildings in existing schools and significant modernisation of existing older buildings. Last year, the government announced $31.4 million in this category. We believe as the Rann government that education is one of the key priorities and we want to put our money where it is needed most. As an example, this year we expect new teaching areas to be completed at Birdwood schools in the area of home economics, visual arts and technical studies. It will cost $4.7 million.

In the Mount Gambier area, McDonald Park schools will receive $5.45 million for a new administration area and six general classrooms, as well as a new consolidated resource centre and activity hall. The Rann government is very proud of our $655 million investment into government schools. It will ensure that students are well equipped for future challenges and this government is committed continually to improving school learning facilities.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I warn the member for MacKillop.