Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I am talking about the school community’s attitude to the proposal on 25 May. Then, in terms of the description of the proposal, the proposal is about demolishing a building from the 1950s, which is in poor condition, and giving a building in its place which, of course, would be a great improvement in terms of standards.

I note that there was some reference in today’s media reports about a covered outdoor learning area. That covered outdoor learning area is actually a program from the Building Better Schools program of the state government; it is not a Building the Education Revolution project. The Building the Education Revolution project is constructing the new building to replace the 1950s building, which is in poor condition.

I understand from media reports today—in the Australian newspaper, I believe—that there is concern in the school community about this, although the school community made a decision about it on 25 May. In circumstances where there is concern in the school community, obviously we are very keen to hear about their concerns. The best way, and the way that has been used by other school communities to indicate concerns and to have them looked at, is by emailing our Building the Education Revolution coordinator. The email address is ber@deewr.gov.au.

I can advise the Leader of the Opposition, in case he is interested, that during the course of the Building the Education Revolution program—more than 24,000 projects in around 9,500 schools—49 complaints have been received to date. Of course, those 49 complaints have and are being dealt with.

See this speech in context