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

I thank the shadow minister for his question. I do hope the opposition, at some point, comes to the realisation that just because you come in into question time and make things up, that does not make them true. I refer the shadow minister to the various reports and inquiries into the Building the Education Revolution program, many of which he called for. These include the Auditor-General’s report and the work done by Brad Orgill. The contentions and assertions in the shadow minister’s question are simply inaccurate.

The best way of actually assessing what the opposition thinks about the Building the Education program is to watch the conduct of local members. You would not want to risk your life and limb by getting between an opposition member and a BER school opening. You would not want to risk your life and limb, particularly when there are scissors and a ribbon involved. It is just too dangerous to try to get between them and their desperate desire to be as closely associated with the program as is humanly possible.

It seems a little bit remarkable to me that the member for Goldstein would be shouting out about this matter. I remember many colour shots of him in the safety vest and the hard hat inspecting Building the Education Revolution projects in his electorate. He could not have got closer to them if he tried.

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