Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in strong support of the Schools Assistance Amendment Bill 2011. The federal Labor government is passionate about raising the quality of teaching in our schools and ensuring that all students, especially those in disadvantaged areas, are benefitting from schooling and improved transparency and accountability about our schools. It is a passion shared by all members certainly on this side of the House and probably, I would acknowledge, by most of those opposite—and not just the former teachers on the other side of the House.

Education provides young people the tools and know-how to enter adulthood, to succeed in life and to contribute to society. You do not have to look any further than the Building the Education Revolution program to see what this commitment looks like in action. Back in the day, the Howard government blessed our schools with 3,000 flagpoles, but the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments have completely transformed our schools into modern education centres, providing 3,000 new libraries—so 3,000 flags on one hand and 3,000 libraries on the other. The contrast must be a little embarrassing for those opposite.

Every other week I attend an opening of a new school building in my electorate thanks to the once-in-a-lifetime BER program—new multipurpose halls, new libraries and resource centres, language and science facilities, new classrooms. These modern facilities are transforming education for our young people. Last month I also attended the opening of a new classroom at Marist College at Ashgrove, which I think is in the federal seat of Brisbane.

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