❓ Shadow Minister Ripper questions the Education Minister Constable about potential cuts to services and jobs due to a static education budget despite identified areas of spending growth, referencing past criticisms made by the Premier. The Minister defends the budget by highlighting previous increases and lower student enrolment growth.
AnsweredQoN 265Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BUDGET 2010–11 — EDUCATION FUNDING
This question might be particularly apt, given the last answer. I refer to the projected 0.1 per cent growth in education expenses and to criticisms made by the now Premier, when in opposition, of a previous Labor budget, in which he stated — The budget includes a 2.3 per cent increase in education expenditure. There must be a real increase in education expenditure every year, simply because education is vital and that in any given year the school population will increase … That is what the Premier said in 2002 in respect of a Labor government budget. (1) Given that the minister’s static education budget itself identifies 12 areas of major spending growth, will the minister now be required to make significant cuts to services and jobs in other areas of the budget? (2) Will the minister detail to the house where she will cut services and jobs? Dr E. CONSTABLE
This question might be particularly apt, given the last answer. I refer to the projected 0.1 per cent growth in education expenses and to criticisms made by the now Premier, when in opposition, of a previous Labor budget, in which he stated — The budget includes a 2.3 per cent increase in education expenditure. There must be a real increase in education expenditure every year, simply because education is vital and that in any given year the school population will increase … That is what the Premier said in 2002 in respect of a Labor government budget. (1) Given that the minister’s static education budget itself identifies 12 areas of major spending growth, will the minister now be required to make significant cuts to services and jobs in other areas of the budget? (2) Will the minister detail to the house where she will cut services and jobs? Dr E. CONSTABLE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
(1) Given that the minister’s static education budget itself identifies 12 areas of major spending growth, will the minister now be required to make significant cuts to services and jobs in other areas of the budget? (2) Will the minister detail to the house where she will cut services and jobs? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
(2) Will the minister detail to the house where she will cut services and jobs? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
(1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
(1) Given that the minister’s static education budget itself identifies 12 areas of major spending growth, will the minister now be required to make significant cuts to services and jobs in other areas of the budget? (2) Will the minister detail to the house where she will cut services and jobs? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
(2) Will the minister detail to the house where she will cut services and jobs? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
(1)–(2) The first and most important thing to point out is that in the previous year, there was an increase of 11.1 per cent in our budget, so this year we are holding firm on that budget. Over two years there has been an 11.2 per cent increase in the education budget. In 2009, there were 3 741 new enrolments in our schools, most of them in kindergarten, pre-primary and grade 1. This year, we have not had anywhere near that increase; it is 240 students, so that is a very small increase. Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You set aside money in your budget papers for student growth! Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : In the previous budget there were a number of one-off expenses, including some Building the Education Revolution program funding, which was about $93 million. With the one-off amounts in the budget last time, it is possible to provide funding for some very important programs. Let us look at 457 visas, for instance. The previous government put its hand up and went to the commonwealth government begging for money a couple of times, with no luck, so it just let those kids languish without providing anything for them. We will provide for students on 457 visas. There will also be funding for independent public schools this year, and funding for schools with a half-cohort in year 8 — Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Mr E.S. Ripper : In your own budget there’s no mention of BER funding of $93 million. It’s a BER figure of $5.9 million, not $93 million! Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
Dr E. CONSTABLE : All will be revealed next week. The Leader of the Opposition should come to the estimates hearings, ask his questions, and he will get his answers.
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