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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-19 Daily Xml
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SCHOOL MAINTENANCE

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:19): My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister please provide the details and an update on how government schools are receiving more money for maintenance?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:19): I thank the member for Ashford for her question. Last year, the state government announced $32 million in two stages for its maintenance funding for schools and preschools program. We are currently in the process of delivering $16 million as part of the first round. This has so far benefited 261 schools and 164 preschools. I think it is worth noting that Plympton Primary School in the member for Ashford's electorate has received $20,582 for new carpets and interior and exterior painting from this program.

As was announced by the Premier, the government has agreed to bring forward the second stage of this program to give a much needed boost to our building and construction industry. This ensures we are able to provide jobs to local people in the industry who may otherwise not be involved in some of the large scale projects currently underway in South Australia. Currently, the Department for Education and Child Development has around $336 million worth of active infrastructure projects, which I am told are generating something like 2,000 jobs. Bringing the second round forward means that $16 million allocated—

The SPEAKER: Point of order from the member for Davenport.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: With due respect to the minister, she is not answering the substance of the question. The question was about more money for school maintenance. What the minister is addressing is bringing forward already announced money—the same amount of money brought forward. It's not more money. We want to hear about if there's money than is already announced.

The SPEAKER: No, member for Davenport, I call you to order. That is a transparently bogus point of order.

The Hon. I.F. Evans: There's not one extra dollar she's talking about.

The SPEAKER: In your opinion. In fact, I wrote down the question: 'How are schools receiving more money for maintenance?'

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: They are. They wouldn't get it under you.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Thank you, sir. Bringing the second round forward means that $16 million allocated for late 2013 and early 2014 will now be available from the middle of this year. Schools and preschools are using the extra funding to make a number of improvements. Some examples of this include $2.6 million being spent at 294 sites for school painting, $1.47 million at 177 sites to upgrade carpets and floor coverings and $1.7 million being spent at 179 sites for general building repairs.

To ensure funding is delivered as quickly as possible, approvals are made on an ongoing basis, with applications for the first round set to conclude on 2 April. Schools have been receiving regular memos and updates encouraging them to take advantage of this extra funding. In addition to round 1 applications, schools and preschools are able to apply for round 2 funding up until 30 June this year. The maintenance funding for schools and preschools program comes in addition to the normal school breakdown maintenance funding. This currently allocates around $18.3 million to schools and preschools each year.

In recent years, the government has worked to cut out the red tape by removing processes, so schools now have an annual breakdown allocation put directly in their bank accounts. This ensures less money is spent on administration, meaning more funds to go where they are needed most. Schools are now given an allocation based on key factors such as enrolment and distance away from Adelaide to fund the maintenance of essential infrastructure that breaks down, such as air conditioning or plumbing. These projects build on the commonwealth's excellent Building the Education Revolution program that injected $944 million into our public schools and preschools.

The SPEAKER: The member for—

Mr PISONI: I draw you to the sessional orders.

The SPEAKER: Well, which one in particular?

Mr PISONI: Time, sir.

The SPEAKER: No, the minister has three quarters of a minute on the clock, and that is not adding on time for interruptions.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: This is another example of the state government working in partnership with business and the community to upgrade school facilities for all children and to keep South Australians in jobs.

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