A WA parliamentary question addresses the cost and usage of in-house vs. private cleaning services in government schools, revealing a small cost differential and school preference for in-house cleaning upon contract expiry.

AnsweredQoN 888Legislative Assembly
Asked
26 June 2003
Portfolio
Education and Training

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the minister to an answer to a question without notice in the Legislative Council on 6 December 2001, in which Hon Graham Giffard stated that the Department of Education and Training was undertaking an audit of costs associated with bringing all school cleaning contracts in-house. (1) What was the total cost of bringing all school cleaning contracts in-house? (2) How many government schools currently use in-house cleaning services? (3) How many government schools currently use private cleaning contractors? (4) What are the total additional costs for in-house cleaning services currently being used by government schools? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of the question and for his ongoing interest in the education portfolio. Everyone on this side of the House knows that this has been a rather controversial issue in the life of this Government. However, we made a commitment at the last election that schools would be given the option of employing in-house cleaners or contract cleaners, and we have fulfilled that commitment; and that is consistent with the Government’s approach to most issues. (1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(1) What was the total cost of bringing all school cleaning contracts in-house? (2) How many government schools currently use in-house cleaning services? (3) How many government schools currently use private cleaning contractors? (4) What are the total additional costs for in-house cleaning services currently being used by government schools? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question and for his ongoing interest in the education portfolio. Everyone on this side of the House knows that this has been a rather controversial issue in the life of this Government. However, we made a commitment at the last election that schools would be given the option of employing in-house cleaners or contract cleaners, and we have fulfilled that commitment; and that is consistent with the Government’s approach to most issues. (1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(2) How many government schools currently use in-house cleaning services? (3) How many government schools currently use private cleaning contractors? (4) What are the total additional costs for in-house cleaning services currently being used by government schools? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question and for his ongoing interest in the education portfolio. Everyone on this side of the House knows that this has been a rather controversial issue in the life of this Government. However, we made a commitment at the last election that schools would be given the option of employing in-house cleaners or contract cleaners, and we have fulfilled that commitment; and that is consistent with the Government’s approach to most issues. (1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(3) How many government schools currently use private cleaning contractors? (4) What are the total additional costs for in-house cleaning services currently being used by government schools? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question and for his ongoing interest in the education portfolio. Everyone on this side of the House knows that this has been a rather controversial issue in the life of this Government. However, we made a commitment at the last election that schools would be given the option of employing in-house cleaners or contract cleaners, and we have fulfilled that commitment; and that is consistent with the Government’s approach to most issues. (1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(4) What are the total additional costs for in-house cleaning services currently being used by government schools? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question and for his ongoing interest in the education portfolio. Everyone on this side of the House knows that this has been a rather controversial issue in the life of this Government. However, we made a commitment at the last election that schools would be given the option of employing in-house cleaners or contract cleaners, and we have fulfilled that commitment; and that is consistent with the Government’s approach to most issues. (1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question and for his ongoing interest in the education portfolio. Everyone on this side of the House knows that this has been a rather controversial issue in the life of this Government. However, we made a commitment at the last election that schools would be given the option of employing in-house cleaners or contract cleaners, and we have fulfilled that commitment; and that is consistent with the Government’s approach to most issues. (1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
I thank the member for some notice of the question and for his ongoing interest in the education portfolio. Everyone on this side of the House knows that this has been a rather controversial issue in the life of this Government. However, we made a commitment at the last election that schools would be given the option of employing in-house cleaners or contract cleaners, and we have fulfilled that commitment; and that is consistent with the Government’s approach to most issues. (1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(1) The Department of Education has estimated that the additional cost of bringing school cleaning back in-house is between $1.5 million and $2 million. The advice from the Education Department is that a full cost-benefit analysis of day labour versus contract cleaning was not undertaken, but rather the department assessed the cost using four schools: East Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Primary School, Wanneroo Junior Primary School and Wanneroo Senior High School. On the basis of those differentials, the figures of $1.5 million and $2 million were arrived at. (2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(2) The latest figure is 248. When school cleaning contracts expire, the school community is given the choice of maintaining the contractors or going back in-house. About 50 per cent to 60 per cent of schools are choosing to go back to in-house cleaning. (3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(3) As at 26 June 2003, 538 schools are using private cleaning contractors. (4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.
(4) Based on the latest cost a square metre the department is paying $17.35 for day labour and $17.20 for contract cleaning, so on an hourly rate there is a 15c differential.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more