❓ Mr. Day questions the Minister about school cleaning costs, budget cuts, and maintenance backlogs. The Minister denies budget cuts, highlights increased spending, and blames the previous government for maintenance issues.
AnsweredQoN 889Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I ask a supplementary question. In light of the review to which the minister referred of school cleaning services in the Wanneroo area, which was undertaken for the Government by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and which indicated that in-house cleaning services are 17.1 per cent more costly than private cleaning services - Point of Order Mr J.C. KOBELKE: Mr Speaker, I understand this is a supplementary question. However, the member is embarking on a new question with a range of information in it. Mr J.H.D. DAY: It is about school cleaning. The SPEAKER: Order! It is true that a supplementary question needs to be a question that clarifies either the answer or part of the question. The member cannot embark on a new question. If the member has a supplementary, I urge him to ask it, and ask it quickly. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: How does the minister reconcile this wasted expenditure with the cut of $30 million in the Department of Education and Training budget from 2004-05 and the $60 million backlog in school maintenance needs? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: It is about school cleaning. The SPEAKER: Order! It is true that a supplementary question needs to be a question that clarifies either the answer or part of the question. The member cannot embark on a new question. If the member has a supplementary, I urge him to ask it, and ask it quickly. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: How does the minister reconcile this wasted expenditure with the cut of $30 million in the Department of Education and Training budget from 2004-05 and the $60 million backlog in school maintenance needs? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
The SPEAKER: Order! It is true that a supplementary question needs to be a question that clarifies either the answer or part of the question. The member cannot embark on a new question. If the member has a supplementary, I urge him to ask it, and ask it quickly. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: How does the minister reconcile this wasted expenditure with the cut of $30 million in the Department of Education and Training budget from 2004-05 and the $60 million backlog in school maintenance needs? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr J.H.D. DAY: It is about school cleaning. The SPEAKER: Order! It is true that a supplementary question needs to be a question that clarifies either the answer or part of the question. The member cannot embark on a new question. If the member has a supplementary, I urge him to ask it, and ask it quickly. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: How does the minister reconcile this wasted expenditure with the cut of $30 million in the Department of Education and Training budget from 2004-05 and the $60 million backlog in school maintenance needs? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
The SPEAKER: Order! It is true that a supplementary question needs to be a question that clarifies either the answer or part of the question. The member cannot embark on a new question. If the member has a supplementary, I urge him to ask it, and ask it quickly. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr J.H.D. DAY: How does the minister reconcile this wasted expenditure with the cut of $30 million in the Department of Education and Training budget from 2004-05 and the $60 million backlog in school maintenance needs? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
I am amazed by the question. The member for Darling Range is an intelligent person. I remember our university days when he was a strapping six-footer bounding with energy and with a full head of hair. What has happened to him? The member for Darling Range knows that there has not been a cut in the budget. In fact, as I recall it, the increase in the school budget this year was $98 million. We have increased the school budget. Schools have more money in their bank accounts now than ever before. We are providing programs in schools that under the previous regime, which did not support government education, schools could only dream about. For the first time in a long time we have a Government that is trying to do something for government school education for the vast majority of our young people. We are not cutting the budget. The amalgamation of the Departments of Education and Training was predicted to save about $30 million. That was our goal. That money will be reinvested - Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Talk about the $60 million maintenance backlog! Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER: The question had a first part to it. That money will be reinvested in school programs. We have increased the maintenance budget by $10 million over four years. On top of that, last year the Premier launched a $6 million maintenance program at Mirrabooka Senior High School. We are spending more money on maintenance, not less. Every member knows that the stock of government schools needs a lot of work. We inherited a situation that needed a lot of attention. The previous minister, to his credit, increased the maintenance budget considerably over what his immediate predecessor had left. In fact, it was cut to almost nothing at one stage in 1993 or 1994. The previous minister increased it. We have substantially increased the budget for school maintenance. Everybody knows that. The member for Darling Range’s questions are ridiculous.
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