Markus Rallies for Local Schools
20-July-2010
Federal MP Louise Markus, took the local fight against the Government’s gross mismanagement of taxpayer dollars to the City yesterday, on behalf of schools such as Cattai P.S.
Louise Markus addressed the rally, organised by the Taxpayers Action Group (TAG), which used Cattai P.S. as just one of four examples of Labor’s gross mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.
Cattai P.S. wanted a hall built with their BER funds allocation, but were forced to accept a second library instead. The school also received 17 plants, 4 square meters of turf and some bark chips for a whopping $23,000. The school is disappointed they did not have the opportunity to spend the money on items they needed, such as a hall or a covered outdoor learning area (COLA).
Mrs Markus was joined at the Rally by local 2GB personality, Alan Jones, and local MP Ray Williams amongst others. The display of overpriced BER projects included several pot-plants painted gold, to show how unrealistic the cost of projects that schools such as Cattai P.S. are receiving.
“The Labor Government continues to knowingly waste billions in the school hall program and it is a national disgrace.
“The NSW Public School Principals Forum have testified they estimate that up to one third (around $5 billion out of $16.2 billion) of the BER money has been syphoned off in management-related fees, outrageously inflating construction costs.
“The simple fact is that government school buildings can cost anywhere from twice to ten times as much as the same buildings constructed by non-government schools who have managed projects independent of state governments and bureaucracies.
“It is an indisputable fact that schools with principals in control of projects have gained greater value for money. Labor has failed to properly manage the billions of taxpayer dollars leading to waste, rorts, price gouging, collusion and shameful mismanagement.
“Only a Coalition Government will take direct action to stop the waste. Labor cannot be trusted to get it right on school halls, and they cannot be trusted to get it right for our economy and our nation’s health system.
If elected, a Coalition Government will take direct action to:
1. Establish a Judicial inquiry to get to the bottom of the BER rip-offs.
2. Recalibrate unspent BER funds for Government schools and give that money directly to each school;
3. Give schools the freedom to decide what infrastructure they need and what will help them enhance the education of our students;
4. Allow each school to self manage projects in order to deliver better value for money; and
5. Let schools keep the money they save for investment in other worthy needs or for more comprehensive infrastructure in the first place.