❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Education about funding for Esperance Senior High School's redevelopment and the denial of a school visit for the Leader of the Opposition, contrasting it with the Minister's own school visits.
AnsweredQoN 10Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Esperance Senior High School—Visits10.Mr Peter Rundleto
theMinister for Education:I refer to the
largest school in my electorate, Esperance Senior High School, which, as the
minister knows, has the highest number of maintenance defects of any school in
the state—over 120.(1) Will the minister ensure
that the Cook Labor government funds the long-overdue redevelopment of
Esperance Senior High School in this year's budget?(2) Why was the Leader of the Opposition—accompanied
by me, the local member—refused permission to visit the school on the
second day of term this year on the basis that it would be too disruptive—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Peter Rundle:—when the minister and the
Premier were attending schools on the first day of term this year?The Speaker:Members on the government side, can I
remind you that questions will be asked in silence, please? The minister has to
hear the question so they can respond to it.
theMinister for Education:I refer to the
largest school in my electorate, Esperance Senior High School, which, as the
minister knows, has the highest number of maintenance defects of any school in
the state—over 120.(1) Will the minister ensure
that the Cook Labor government funds the long-overdue redevelopment of
Esperance Senior High School in this year's budget?(2) Why was the Leader of the Opposition—accompanied
by me, the local member—refused permission to visit the school on the
second day of term this year on the basis that it would be too disruptive—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Peter Rundle:—when the minister and the
Premier were attending schools on the first day of term this year?The Speaker:Members on the government side, can I
remind you that questions will be asked in silence, please? The minister has to
hear the question so they can respond to it.
AnswerView source ↗
It is a great
question and I am really happy to take the opportunity to explain my decision,
which seems to have upset the other side in terms of what I think is the most
important job for schools at the beginning of 2026. Before I make my remarks, I
will take this opportunity to say that, being day 2 of week 3, it has been an
extraordinary start for students right around our state, with some 835 public
schools, 330,000 students and more teachers than ever before supporting
opportunities around the state. So far this year I have visited 15 schools,
including on the first day of school, because that is my job as Minister for
Education. I will continue to visit schools, whether it is on the first day of
school, the last day of school or every day in between.The member for Roe
has long been an advocate for Esperance Senior High School. I want to
acknowledge his advocacy for his school and also remind the house that as the
local member he was more than welcome to go to that school representing that
electorate. As everyone knows, Esperance Senior High School received its first
serious investment—in terms of any government, including the previous
Liberal government—whereby we allocated over $600,000 of important
planning money to start important work with the community around its long-term
plans for significant upgrades to that school. That work is ongoing with the Department
of Education. I am sorry to disappoint the member for Roe; I am not here to
make announcements about what will and will not be in the budget, and neither
will any other minister if asked on any other matter. But I also want to put on
the record that Esperance Senior High School has received some $300 million in
funding from the federal government to refurbish the library's west wing for
student services. We have had a $1.5 million investment in a STEM lab into that
school, and nearly $300,000 for a roof replacement in the northern general
learning block, as well as, importantly, some $6.3 million of maintenance
works. Members would also remember that last year, as part of our billion
dollar record investment in maintenance work in schools right throughout the
state, I announced an additional $11.3 million to particularly address defects
that were highlighted in the building condition assessment reports, and I said
then and I will say now that key to that $11.3 million is making sure that
Esperance Senior High School continues to receive the funding required to
address the defects that the member raised.
Esperance Senior High School—Visits
10.Mr Peter Rundleto
theMinister for Education:
I refer to the
largest school in my electorate, Esperance Senior High School, which, as the
minister knows, has the highest number of maintenance defects of any school in
the state—over 120.
(1) Will the minister ensure
that the Cook Labor government funds the long-overdue redevelopment of
Esperance Senior High School in this year's budget?
(2) Why was the Leader of the Opposition—accompanied
by me, the local member—refused permission to visit the school on the
second day of term this year on the basis that it would be too disruptive—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Peter Rundle:—when the minister and the
Premier were attending schools on the first day of term this year?
The Speaker:Members on the government side, can I
remind you that questions will be asked in silence, please? The minister has to
hear the question so they can respond to it.
Ms Sabine Winton replied:
It is a great
question and I am really happy to take the opportunity to explain my decision,
which seems to have upset the other side in terms of what I think is the most
important job for schools at the beginning of 2026. Before I make my remarks, I
will take this opportunity to say that, being day 2 of week 3, it has been an
extraordinary start for students right around our state, with some 835 public
schools, 330,000 students and more teachers than ever before supporting
opportunities around the state. So far this year I have visited 15 schools,
including on the first day of school, because that is my job as Minister for
Education. I will continue to visit schools, whether it is on the first day of
school, the last day of school or every day in between.
The member for Roe
has long been an advocate for Esperance Senior High School. I want to
acknowledge his advocacy for his school and also remind the house that as the
local member he was more than welcome to go to that school representing that
electorate. As everyone knows, Esperance Senior High School received its first
serious investment—in terms of any government, including the previous
Liberal government—whereby we allocated over $600,000 of important
planning money to start important work with the community around its long-term
plans for significant upgrades to that school. That work is ongoing with the Department
of Education. I am sorry to disappoint the member for Roe; I am not here to
make announcements about what will and will not be in the budget, and neither
will any other minister if asked on any other matter. But I also want to put on
the record that Esperance Senior High School has received some $300 million in
funding from the federal government to refurbish the library's west wing for
student services. We have had a $1.5 million investment in a STEM lab into that
school, and nearly $300,000 for a roof replacement in the northern general
learning block, as well as, importantly, some $6.3 million of maintenance
works. Members would also remember that last year, as part of our billion
dollar record investment in maintenance work in schools right throughout the
state, I announced an additional $11.3 million to particularly address defects
that were highlighted in the building condition assessment reports, and I said
then and I will say now that key to that $11.3 million is making sure that
Esperance Senior High School continues to receive the funding required to
address the defects that the member raised.
question and I am really happy to take the opportunity to explain my decision,
which seems to have upset the other side in terms of what I think is the most
important job for schools at the beginning of 2026. Before I make my remarks, I
will take this opportunity to say that, being day 2 of week 3, it has been an
extraordinary start for students right around our state, with some 835 public
schools, 330,000 students and more teachers than ever before supporting
opportunities around the state. So far this year I have visited 15 schools,
including on the first day of school, because that is my job as Minister for
Education. I will continue to visit schools, whether it is on the first day of
school, the last day of school or every day in between.The member for Roe
has long been an advocate for Esperance Senior High School. I want to
acknowledge his advocacy for his school and also remind the house that as the
local member he was more than welcome to go to that school representing that
electorate. As everyone knows, Esperance Senior High School received its first
serious investment—in terms of any government, including the previous
Liberal government—whereby we allocated over $600,000 of important
planning money to start important work with the community around its long-term
plans for significant upgrades to that school. That work is ongoing with the Department
of Education. I am sorry to disappoint the member for Roe; I am not here to
make announcements about what will and will not be in the budget, and neither
will any other minister if asked on any other matter. But I also want to put on
the record that Esperance Senior High School has received some $300 million in
funding from the federal government to refurbish the library's west wing for
student services. We have had a $1.5 million investment in a STEM lab into that
school, and nearly $300,000 for a roof replacement in the northern general
learning block, as well as, importantly, some $6.3 million of maintenance
works. Members would also remember that last year, as part of our billion
dollar record investment in maintenance work in schools right throughout the
state, I announced an additional $11.3 million to particularly address defects
that were highlighted in the building condition assessment reports, and I said
then and I will say now that key to that $11.3 million is making sure that
Esperance Senior High School continues to receive the funding required to
address the defects that the member raised.
Esperance Senior High School—Visits
10.Mr Peter Rundleto
theMinister for Education:
I refer to the
largest school in my electorate, Esperance Senior High School, which, as the
minister knows, has the highest number of maintenance defects of any school in
the state—over 120.
(1) Will the minister ensure
that the Cook Labor government funds the long-overdue redevelopment of
Esperance Senior High School in this year's budget?
(2) Why was the Leader of the Opposition—accompanied
by me, the local member—refused permission to visit the school on the
second day of term this year on the basis that it would be too disruptive—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Peter Rundle:—when the minister and the
Premier were attending schools on the first day of term this year?
The Speaker:Members on the government side, can I
remind you that questions will be asked in silence, please? The minister has to
hear the question so they can respond to it.
Ms Sabine Winton replied:
It is a great
question and I am really happy to take the opportunity to explain my decision,
which seems to have upset the other side in terms of what I think is the most
important job for schools at the beginning of 2026. Before I make my remarks, I
will take this opportunity to say that, being day 2 of week 3, it has been an
extraordinary start for students right around our state, with some 835 public
schools, 330,000 students and more teachers than ever before supporting
opportunities around the state. So far this year I have visited 15 schools,
including on the first day of school, because that is my job as Minister for
Education. I will continue to visit schools, whether it is on the first day of
school, the last day of school or every day in between.
The member for Roe
has long been an advocate for Esperance Senior High School. I want to
acknowledge his advocacy for his school and also remind the house that as the
local member he was more than welcome to go to that school representing that
electorate. As everyone knows, Esperance Senior High School received its first
serious investment—in terms of any government, including the previous
Liberal government—whereby we allocated over $600,000 of important
planning money to start important work with the community around its long-term
plans for significant upgrades to that school. That work is ongoing with the Department
of Education. I am sorry to disappoint the member for Roe; I am not here to
make announcements about what will and will not be in the budget, and neither
will any other minister if asked on any other matter. But I also want to put on
the record that Esperance Senior High School has received some $300 million in
funding from the federal government to refurbish the library's west wing for
student services. We have had a $1.5 million investment in a STEM lab into that
school, and nearly $300,000 for a roof replacement in the northern general
learning block, as well as, importantly, some $6.3 million of maintenance
works. Members would also remember that last year, as part of our billion
dollar record investment in maintenance work in schools right throughout the
state, I announced an additional $11.3 million to particularly address defects
that were highlighted in the building condition assessment reports, and I said
then and I will say now that key to that $11.3 million is making sure that
Esperance Senior High School continues to receive the funding required to
address the defects that the member raised.
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