27 Jun 2010

Abbott to break contracts and cause chaos in schools

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Federal Education Minister Simon Crean today warned that the Opposition’s hollow promise on re-directing funding for school buildings was a threat to education, jobs and the Australian economy.
“Tony Abbott has revealed his erratic character with his call for the ripping up of building contracts for the Building the Education Revolution program,” Mr Crean said.
“The Government will face massive litigation costs, construction will stop and children will be left without classrooms under the Coalition plan.
“Mr Abbott’s proposal would hurt students, parents, teachers and almost every community in the country by delaying the delivery of classrooms, libraries and science laboratories.
“Mr Abbott’s hollow promise ignores the reality that 97 per cent of all projects have started – with the design phase already completed,” Mr Crean said.
In 77 per cent of projects, construction is completed or underway.
“If the Coalition won office, Mr Abbott would force the breaching of thousands of contracts,” Mr Crean said.
“This would be the biggest breach of contracts in the history of the Commonwealth and risk billions in litigation.”
The $16.2 billion BER program is funding some 24,000 projects benefitting more than 9000 schools.
“We have set up an Implementation Taskforce led by Brad Orgill to ensure that Australians get value for money from the BER program.
The money is committed and the Coalition savings are a sham. This is another slogan from Tony Abbott and not a solution,” Mr Crean said.
“Thousands of building workers and sub-contractors could also be thrown out of work and many small businesses would be hurt.
“Mr Abbott has no commitment to education and has already promised if he wins the election he will axe funding for computers in schools, Trades Training Centres and slash teacher improvements.
“School principals are trained and entrusted to teach our children and they should not be forced to project manage construction sites as well.
“The Gillard Government is committed to working in partnership with school principals to get value for money from the BER program.
“Mr Abbott is a massive risk to Australia’s economy and the educational future of our kids,” Mr Crean said.

Federal Education Minister Simon Crean today warned that the Opposition’s hollow promise on re-directing funding for school buildings was a threat to education, jobs and the Australian economy.“Tony Abbott has revealed his erratic character with his call for the ripping up of building contracts for the Building the Education Revolution program,” Mr Crean said.“The Government will face massive litigation costs, construction will stop and children will be left without classrooms under the Coalition plan.

“Mr Abbott’s proposal would hurt students, parents, teachers and almost every community in the country by delaying the delivery of classrooms, libraries and science laboratories.“Mr Abbott’s hollow promise ignores the reality that 97 per cent of all projects have started – with the design phase already completed,” Mr Crean said.In 77 per cent of projects, construction is completed or underway.

“If the Coalition won office, Mr Abbott would force the breaching of thousands of contracts,” Mr Crean said.“This would be the biggest breach of contracts in the history of the Commonwealth and risk billions in litigation.”The $16.2 billion BER program is funding some 24,000 projects benefitting more than 9000 schools.“We have set up an Implementation Taskforce led by Brad Orgill to ensure that Australians get value for money from the BER program.

The money is committed and the Coalition savings are a sham. This is another slogan from Tony Abbott and not a solution,” Mr Crean said.“Thousands of building workers and sub-contractors could also be thrown out of work and many small businesses would be hurt.

“Mr Abbott has no commitment to education and has already promised if he wins the election he will axe funding for computers in schools, Trades Training Centres and slash teacher improvements.“School principals are trained and entrusted to teach our children and they should not be forced to project manage construction sites as well.“The Gillard Government is committed to working in partnership with school principals to get value for money from the BER program.

“Mr Abbott is a massive risk to Australia’s economy and the educational future of our kids,” Mr Crean said.

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