Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Mason for his question. I congratulate him on his promotion and look forward to crossing swords with him in coming months. Can I first of all point out to him that responsibility for the Building the Education Revolution projects is mine not in a representational role but as the portfolio minister for DEEWR. I get all the good jobs—and I am enjoying it too.

As the parliament would be aware, the interim report from Mr Orgill’s BER Implementation Taskforce was released on 6 August 2010. It is a very informative report. I would encourage all senators with an interest in this area to have a read of it. It is very comprehensive. In that report Mr Orgill made 14 recommendations, and the government has committed to implementing all 14 of those recommendations. As you know, there will be a further report from Mr Orgill’s implementation task force in November, which will reflect the continuing work they are doing in investigating complaints, looking at questions of value for money and looking at any concerns about the project.

I indicate, directly answering the question of Senator Mason, that DEEWR has already established and met with a working party of representatives from all education authorities to progress those recommendations, and that includes the question of the publication of the costs. As you know, the task force has done a lot of work in that area of comparative costing, and that is all published in the report. But I certainly will be applying pressure to the states to make sure that that commitment is honoured.