Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Forshaw for his question. At least he is seeking information, concerned as he is about ensuring the prosperity of this nation in these difficult times. Building the Education Revolution, I repeat for those senators who clearly are not interested in this, is the single biggest boost to Australian schools in the nation’s history. This is a $14.7 billion initiative to provide new facilities and to refurbish facilities. It will help equip each and every Australian school to meet the demands of the 21st century. The centrepiece of this program is the $12.4 billion Primary Schools for the 21st Century program. It is building and renewing large-scale infrastructure in all eligible Australian primary schools, especially in special schools and in kindergarten to year 12 schools, including libraries, halls and indoor sporting centres.

The first two rounds of this program will deliver $9.1 billion to 5,215 schools in every state and territory, and we are yet to hear from the coalition as to whether or not they support this expenditure. This program will support some 6,983 projects. It will help to sustain jobs and it will help to sustain businesses in every community across Australia. What do the coalition say about this? Do they support it or don’t they? Of course, this is round 1 of the funding. Two-thirds of this program’s funding to date has gone to government schools, one-fifth has gone to Catholic schools and 13 per cent has gone to independent schools. Contrary to some ill-informed media commentary—(Time expired)