❓ Opposition questions the Education Minister on the slow rollout and funding of the Cool the Schools program, highlighting a teacher's fundraising efforts. The Minister defends the government's commitment and criticises the previous government's record on school air conditioning.
AnsweredQoN 144Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Cool the Schools—Air conditioning
144. Mr Liam Staltari to
the Minister for Education:
I refer to Keyan Robertson, a passionate teacher at
Malvern Springs Primary School in Ellenbrook who is so dismayed at the lack
of action on school air conditioners that he is running 100 kilometres in one
day as part of a public fundraiser for his students.
(1) Why are our teachers being forced to run their
own fundraisers for this basic service when the Cool the Schools program is
less than half funded?
(2) Does the minister accept the statement of the
member for Hillarys yesterday that the Cool the Schools rollout is
"slow"?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
144. Mr Liam Staltari to
the Minister for Education:
I refer to Keyan Robertson, a passionate teacher at
Malvern Springs Primary School in Ellenbrook who is so dismayed at the lack
of action on school air conditioners that he is running 100 kilometres in one
day as part of a public fundraiser for his students.
(1) Why are our teachers being forced to run their
own fundraisers for this basic service when the Cool the Schools program is
less than half funded?
(2) Does the minister accept the statement of the
member for Hillarys yesterday that the Cool the Schools rollout is
"slow"?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his
question. Out of two hours of debate around Cool the Schools yesterday, the
member has quoted one word from the member for Hillarys, but not the rest of
it. The member did not quote some of the important parts of the debate last
night, but I thank the member for the question because it gives me an
opportunity to say it again. Let us be clear. It is only this side of
government that has actually made a commitment to Cool the Schools. Members on
the other side did not.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Geraldton!
Ms Sabine Winton: Let us be clear about that. I
repeat: it is only the Labor government that made a commitment to Cool the
Schools. The opposition did not. Twelve months ago, shadow education minister,
your side did not give a damn—
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Point of order.
The Speaker: It is okay. Thank you. I have got it.
Minister, can you direct your comments through the Chair, please?
Ms Sabine Winton: I remind the house that some 12
months ago the opposition, the Liberal and National Parties, did not give a
damn about the conditions in our schools because they made no commitment—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I will give
you one warning. You are on three calls. Member for Geraldton, can you please
stop interjecting as well?
Ms Sabine Winton: They said nothing about it. I want
to put air conditioning in the broader historical context—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Government members, when you are
ready.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Here we go—Barnett.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, please do not
interject. You still have a possible supplementary to go.
Ms Sabine Winton: Hearing the word "Barnett"
triggered me a little bit because I know what he said about air conditioning
and people not needing it because we have got the sea breeze. I remember those
times. That really did reflect the Barnett government's attitude towards air
conditioning in our schools because it was not until 2019 as part of this
government that all new schools and all new major school upgrades received
reverse cycle air conditioning. Let me just put that on the record. All builds
prior to 2019 under the previous Liberal–National government got
defective, noisy and inefficient air conditioning systems.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister!
Ms Sabine Winton: They brought
nothing to the table at the election, yet somehow they want to be the champions
of air conditioning in the school system. It defies logic.
On
this side, we deliver on our election commitments. Our commitment is to deliver
Cool the Schools to 45 schools right across the state, including in the
electorate of Central Wheatbelt. I look forward to the member saying,
"Thank goodness for the Labor government, because if it weren't for the
Labor government, they would not receive new air conditioning."
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. If you can conclude
your comments.
Ms Sabine Winton: Thank you.
I encourage the shadow Minister for Education to take
every single opportunity he can to ask me a question about air conditioning
because every time he does, it gives me an opportunity to remind the public
that it is this side of politics that values public education and will continue
to invest, whether it is in new schools, on major upgrades or in air
conditioning.
question. Out of two hours of debate around Cool the Schools yesterday, the
member has quoted one word from the member for Hillarys, but not the rest of
it. The member did not quote some of the important parts of the debate last
night, but I thank the member for the question because it gives me an
opportunity to say it again. Let us be clear. It is only this side of
government that has actually made a commitment to Cool the Schools. Members on
the other side did not.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Geraldton!
Ms Sabine Winton: Let us be clear about that. I
repeat: it is only the Labor government that made a commitment to Cool the
Schools. The opposition did not. Twelve months ago, shadow education minister,
your side did not give a damn—
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Point of order.
The Speaker: It is okay. Thank you. I have got it.
Minister, can you direct your comments through the Chair, please?
Ms Sabine Winton: I remind the house that some 12
months ago the opposition, the Liberal and National Parties, did not give a
damn about the conditions in our schools because they made no commitment—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I will give
you one warning. You are on three calls. Member for Geraldton, can you please
stop interjecting as well?
Ms Sabine Winton: They said nothing about it. I want
to put air conditioning in the broader historical context—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Government members, when you are
ready.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Here we go—Barnett.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, please do not
interject. You still have a possible supplementary to go.
Ms Sabine Winton: Hearing the word "Barnett"
triggered me a little bit because I know what he said about air conditioning
and people not needing it because we have got the sea breeze. I remember those
times. That really did reflect the Barnett government's attitude towards air
conditioning in our schools because it was not until 2019 as part of this
government that all new schools and all new major school upgrades received
reverse cycle air conditioning. Let me just put that on the record. All builds
prior to 2019 under the previous Liberal–National government got
defective, noisy and inefficient air conditioning systems.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Minister!
Ms Sabine Winton: They brought
nothing to the table at the election, yet somehow they want to be the champions
of air conditioning in the school system. It defies logic.
On
this side, we deliver on our election commitments. Our commitment is to deliver
Cool the Schools to 45 schools right across the state, including in the
electorate of Central Wheatbelt. I look forward to the member saying,
"Thank goodness for the Labor government, because if it weren't for the
Labor government, they would not receive new air conditioning."
The Speaker: Thank you, minister. If you can conclude
your comments.
Ms Sabine Winton: Thank you.
I encourage the shadow Minister for Education to take
every single opportunity he can to ask me a question about air conditioning
because every time he does, it gives me an opportunity to remind the public
that it is this side of politics that values public education and will continue
to invest, whether it is in new schools, on major upgrades or in air
conditioning.
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