Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Carr, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, representing the Minister for Education. Can the minister inform the Senate what the government is doing to renew and extend Australia’s school infrastructure? In particular, can the minister update the Senate on the progress of the Building the Education Revolution program? What contribution are these investments making to battling the global recession and accelerating recovery?

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

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer, and particularly for pointing out that this program, the Building the Education Revolution program, has a significant number of components and involves a huge investment. Minister, if I can then take that up, I would like to ask you a question in respect of one component of that—that being the National School Pride program. I ask: could the minister update the Senate on the rollout of that national pride program and how it is going? What is the scope of the program and how many schools does it involve?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, I have already said once today that I need to hear the question. I need people on both sides of me to be quiet. Senator Forshaw, could you go back to the last part of your question.

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am hoping that the minister had the chance to hear the first part, but I will come to the last part of my question—that is, is this a program for just one particular sector? Could you please enlighten the Senate, Minister?

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

I thank Senator Forshaw for his question. I think first of all I should say that, contrary to some ill-informed senators relying on ill-informed media comments, there will be no money allocated to projects in schools which are due to close or to amalgamate. What you have here is the government allocating $1.26 billion to 13,176 projects in 9,490 schools around the country under rounds 1 and 2 of the National Schools Pride program. That is 9½ thousand schools—not a few dozen or a few hundred but 9½ thousand schools. We see a whingeing, do nothing attitude from those opposite. Of course they will never have the courage to actually— (Time expired)

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I agree—there is nothing worse than an ill-informed senator, and we have been looking at quite a few of them today. But I would actually like to be—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Come on, Senator Forshaw. Ask your question.

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would ask if the minister could inform the Senate, particularly for the benefit of those opposite, about the Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools component of Building the Education Revolution. How does it relate to new spending on research and innovation in the 2009-10 budget, and how can science and research help to shield Australia from the global recession and lay the foundations for future prosperity?

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

Last month’s budget included some $3.1 billion in new funding for research and innovation over four years. Much of that money will be spent on Australian science, especially through the $1.1 billion Super Science Initiative. We also recognise that progress in building long-term scientific capacity must actually begin in the schools, and that is why this component of Building the Education Revolution is so important. It will make $1 billion available to build around 500 new science laboratories and language training centres in schools that can demonstrate that need. There has to be a capacity to complete construction by 30 June 2010. It will give young Australians the skills they require to compete and prosper in a high-tech global economy. (Time expired)

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

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.