Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Education. I refer the minister to the Wahroonga Public School in my electorate, which is seeking funding under the National School Pride program for perimeter safety fencing for its school. The school has received two quotes for this project. The first is from the state government’s preferred contractor, which is Spotless, for $40,122, which it has been told it must accept. The second quote is from a local fencing company for $22,660. I ask the minister: why is it necessary to spend an additional $17,000 of taxpayers’ hard-earned money on this project when a local company, employing local businessmen and contractors, can do the job for almost half the price?

See this speech in context