PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: BRIGHTON SECONDARY SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (11:34): I move:

That the 453^rd report of the committee, entitled Brighton Secondary School Redevelopment, be noted.

The project involves the new build of a new facility and refurbishment of some existing facilities at an estimated cost of $17.875 million (excluding GST). It will be designed to accommodate an additional 250 students. It will deliver the following: construction of a new learning facility, incorporating a canteen, student amenities, student services, a new library (replacing the existing library), maths and English departments, science, staff amenities and staffroom; a new 400 seat extension to the existing music recital hall, providing a total 734 seat facility with associated boulevard and landscaping; refurbishment of existing facilities; OHSW compliance to refurbished buildings; modification to car park to accommodate additional staff members; and demolition of existing buildings in poor condition to make way for the new build. This project is expected to be completed by November 2013. Given this and pursuant to the act, the committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:35): I have a few words to say on this. We found the project of some interest. We asked a series of questions of members opposite about the capacity of schools nearby to pick up the slack rather than pour it all into the one school at Brighton. That is not taking anything away from that school but there are other schools that we felt could have met the needs. This would appear to be a political decision to prop up Brighton in the seat of Bright. With those few words, I endorse the report.

The Hon. C.C. Fox: That is an outrageous thing to say and you cast a slur upon the entire school when you do that. You are shameful.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, the member for Little Para will have a chance to rebut in closing the debate. The member for Finniss might wish to be careful about what he says as well.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The next person who interjects will be taking a walk. The member for Fisher.

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (11:36): This is one of our many fine state high schools. Some of the young people in my electorate go there because it is a specialist high school, as well as a general secondary school. I would urge those in the community who are not positive towards state schools to have a look at what happens in many of our primary and secondary schools in the state school system. We have fantastic state schools in general. Ultimately, it comes down to the quality of the principal and the staff. I think it is great to see some money being spent on state schools. Many other schools need more money spent on them to bring them up to what is modern day standards in terms of infrastructure, but this is one of the very good schools in the DECD system. I do not accept what the member for Finniss says. I think money spent on any of our state schools is money well spent.

The Hon. C.C. FOX (Bright—Minister for Transport Services) (11:38): It is a very sad day that because of his own desperation, because of his own collapsing career, because of his own obsession and dislike of me, that the member for Finniss will come in here when we are discussing a secondary school redevelopment and say the things that he says. I look forward—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, you will have a chance to speak if you wish to avail yourself of that. Stop interjecting.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: —to his wrongful attribution of political motive to be retracted. I would like to put on the record my deep respect for this particular school, which is one of the state's outstanding schools. Brighton High has a famous music program, a famous volleyball program and an exceptional principal, who is lauded far and wide for her ability within education. I was recently at that school where I spoke to a number of students who were on their way to a global engineering competition. They had been selected for a national team in Dubai. To use his own personal animus towards me or those in my electorate—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order: this is blatantly ridiculous.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister, continue.

The Hon. C.C. FOX: I will wind up my remarks there. This is what I say as a final remark: the member for Finniss has a record of saying, frankly, inappropriate and hurtful things, and I will be speaking to the—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order: this is impugning improper motives and it is absolutely out of order and ridiculous.

Motion carried.