BUILDING THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION

In reply to Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (29 June 2011) (Estimates Committee B).

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development): I have been advised:

The table below summarises the analysis of average costs per square metre ($/m²) undertaken by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) and the Commonwealth Building Education Revolution (BER) Implementation Taskforce.

The figures identified in the 'DTEI Report December 2010' column represent DPTI's analysis of costs as provided to the Taskforce for its first report in 2010.

The figures in the 'Taskforce Report December 2010' column (and highlighted in blue) were published by the Taskforce in its first report in 2010.

Of the monies allocated to each school, DPTI quarantined an amount against risks. Any quarantined funds that were not used for this purpose were subsequently given to the school and generally used for furniture, equipment and refurbishment.

The Commonwealth Taskforce included these funds in its December 2010 report, in its calculations of the cost per square metre regardless of whether they were used for purposes associated with construction or provided to the school after the completion of the project. This explains the differential.

BER—Taskforce Cost Data

Figures exclude GST and are not adjusted for location (regional and remote projects have higher costs)

* Quarantined funds that were not required were given to the school.