Powell Media Release – Andrew welcomes funding to ‘Fix Our Schools’ (26 March 2013)

Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell has welcomed the Newman Government’s commitment to provide a further $100 million to revitalise Queensland state schools.

 Mr Powell said the Fixing Our Schools Fund would target Queensland schools with the biggest maintenance backlogs and was on top of the $200 million committed in last year’s budget.

“Last year the Newman Government announced that it would spend $200 million to provide every state school in Queensland with $160,000 to fix existing maintenance issues inherited from the previous Labor Government,” Mr Powell said.

“Thanks to that funding 15 schools in Glass House received funding to repair footpaths, replace carpet and repaint.

Mr Powell said the Newman Government would clear the maintenance backlogs of 700 Queensland state schools within a year.

“Not only has the Newman Government provided this funding but we have also made it easier for schools to get the job done by untying maintenance from QBuild and opening it to private providers,” he said.

“Early figures suggest that schools are finding efficiencies of up to 20 per cent.  That’s five jobs for the price of four.

“This is just another example of the strides the Newman Government is taking in reducing red tape and making life easier for Queenslanders.”

Mr Powell said the previous Labor Government had left Queensland state schools with a $292 million maintenance backlog that saw schools in Glass House fall into disrepair.

“Because of Labor’s neglect school facilities in Glass House were left to decay,” he said.

“Under the Newman Government, Queensland schools will once again be a place of pride for students to learn, teachers to teach and communities to gather.

“The Fixing Our Schools Fund will ensure Queensland remains a great state with great schools well into the future.”

[ENDS] 26 March, 2013