School Infrastructure Projects

Mr MURRAY (Davenport) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister advise the house how the Marshall Liberal government is addressing urgent capital works across a range of government schools in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, including in my electorate?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:33): I thank the member for Davenport for this question. I know that he is very passionate about education in the southern suburbs, of course, in his own electorate. The member for Davenport is a member of the governing council at the Aberfoyle Park High School, so he would be aware, for a start, of the very significant capital works that are underway at Aberfoyle Park High School, a substantial redevelopment of a series of sections of the school, including performing arts centres.

The administration space is being completely upgraded—contemporary learning spaces, refurbishment of existing buildings, including some, to say it kindly, that were not fitting contemporary educational standards. But now, as of the beginning of next year, not only has the size of the school expanded to support year 7s and population growth, we will see world-class facilities serving the needs of students in the Aberfoyle Park area and around, and it is going to be a very exciting time for the school.

It is a very exciting time for that school for many reasons. Not only is there a spectacular capital works redevelopment underway at Aberfoyle Park High School, which the students, staff and the community are very excited about, but the school—led by Marion Coady, an outstanding educational leader, formerly of Blackwood High School, a very strong career—has just been given accreditation, along with Unley High School and Norwood Morialta High School, previously Roma Mitchell last year and previously Glenunga, to deliver the International Baccalaureate Diploma next year. It's a very significant achievement.

The International Baccalaureate Organization requires a very high level of practice to be able to deliver that. Aberfoyle Park High School, along with those other schools I have mentioned, has demonstrated to the International Baccalaureate Organization that it is at that level because of the commitment made by this government on coming to office to support schools, four new public schools to be able to offer that diploma, to give more options to students, particularly those keen on languages or higher level academic qualifications or indeed those who might travel internationally.

Students in the Aberfoyle Park area in the southern suburbs now have a direct pathway through the public education system, and they have already taken enrolments for next year, which is tremendous. Around the southern suburbs, there are schools that have completed their building works, there are building works underway and there are some about to get started. Reynella East College I was talking to the member for Hurtle Vale recently about, who was reporting to me on how spectacular that gymnasium is looking. That project is not far away from completion.

I was talking to the member for Hurtle Vale, in fact, at the opening of the spectacular new facilities at Wirreanda Secondary School, where the Premier visited and wished that he was indeed going back to school so that he could experience world-class facilities like that while in a secondary school environment. Those students, including the year 7s who have been at that school for a year and half in that pilot site, are enjoying those very much.

Schools around the south—Blackwood, Seaford, Christies Beach High School and Southern Vocational College, Willunga High School, Aldinga B-6, the new Aldinga Payinthi College, Brighton Secondary School, Brighton Primary School, the Hallett Cove School—have all had dramatic improvements as a result of investments by this government, part of a $1.4 billion investment, more than a hundred upgrades, five new schools, four starting next year, one in the following year.

Can I also say—I am sure the member for Davenport will be keen to hear it, although the member for Hurtle Vale and the Minister for Environment even more so—in this year's budget, I remind members, we have invested $27 million in two new projects, effectively rebuilding schools with dramatically outdated facilities at Pimpala Primary School and the Seaview Downs Primary School. They are long overdue investments, but investments this government is making to ensure that students in the southern suburbs and across South Australia get access to world-class facilities and a world-class education thanks to the Marshall Liberal government.