Schools, Cleaning

In reply to Mr PISONI (Unley) (24 July 2015). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for the Public Sector): I have been advised of the following:

The total Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) school cleaning budget for the following financial years is as follows:

2013-14—approximately $31.13m (Inc. GST)

2014-15—approximately $32.00m (Inc. GST)

2015-16—is expected to be approximately $32.75m (Inc. GST)

There is an increase to the cleaning budget each year due to indexation being applied to all DECD school cleaning contracts from 1 July. The indexation percentage varies year by year and is based on the percentage increase announced by Fair Work Australia.

Costing efficiencies are being achieved through competitive tendering of contracts.