John Cobb (Calare, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Minister for Education and Minister for Social Inclusion. I refer the minister to the construction of demountable classrooms at Mullion Creek and Errowanbang schools at a cost of $550,000. Is the minister aware that the schools have attempted to contact her office by phone and email to tell her that these demountables do not meet the needs of these schools and could be constructed by local tradesmen at half the cost? Minister, how does paying a 100 per cent premium represent value for our taxpayers?

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

I thank the member for Calare for his question and for his reference to two of the 129 schools in his electorate that have 298 projects under the Building the Education Revolution program at a cost of $146 million. On the issue of the schools that the member specifically raises, I am obviously happy to look at the issue that he raises. On the question, I am very happy to look at the issue—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Now that the member for Bowman, it seems, will allow me to give the call to the member for Cowper, the member for Cowper has the call on a point of order.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. These schools have tried to contact their minister’s office and she has not responded.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cowper will resume his seat.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Pyne interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And the member for Sturt still has not read standing order 65(b)—but that is beside the point.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Hartsuyker interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cowper is warned! He can raise a point of order but he cannot debate it. The Deputy Prime Minister is responding to the question.

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

Can I say to the member who has raised this question that I will investigate two things—one being the issue of contact with my office. But can I say to the member that, during this parliamentary fortnight, the shadow minister for education asserted in here that I had not responded to an email from the member for Bradfield about going to one of his local schools—and of course when we looked at that matter that assertion was completely incorrect. And then on the issue of comparisons about building cost, I will certainly look at that matter too. But I would say to the member who has raised the question that, during the course of this parliamentary fortnight, once again, the shadow minister for education raised the question of per square metre building costs at Berridale in New South Wales—and when we checked, of course, the assertions that he made about those building costs were completely incorrect. Given that track record—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Pyne interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Member for Sturt! No matter what the provocation is that the member for Sturt thinks he is under, he cannot continually talk over people who have the call. He is warned.

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

Can I conclude by saying that, given that track record—one diary matter raised during this parliamentary fortnight which was completely incorrect; one building comparison raised by the shadow minister for education which, on investigation, proved to be completely incorrect—and against that background, I am sure the member will understand why, when matters are raised with me in question time by opposition members, what I say is: I will investigate them. And I will investigate them.