Labor in school halls bias

Government ‘pork-barrelling’ on facilities funding

ALMOST double the number of new schools halls will be built in Labor-held seats than LNP electorates.

Shadow Education Minister Tracy Davis accused the Palaszczuk Government of playing politics with school hall funding. “Dress it up however they like, Labor is porkbarrelling on the eve of an election,” she said.

The $116 million school halls fund forms the majority of the $200 million Advancing Queensland State Schools program, announced this year. The program has awarded 17 new school halls in Labor seats, nine in LNP electorates, two in the seat of Cook and one in Cairns – held by former Labor MPs turned independents Billy Gordon and Rob Pyne – and one in Mount Isa, held by Katter’s Australian Party.

The Bulletin this month reported the government had decreased spendig on education infrastructure next year by $20 million.

School halls projects were chosen in 14 marginal or mustwin seats – under the new boundaries which the election is expected to be contested on – held by both major parties and independents.

Education Minister Kate Jones denied the Opposition’s claims about pork barrelling and said the decisions were made solely on a needs basis.

“I stand by our decision to provide new schools, new classrooms and new community infrastructure like school halls where they are needed most,” she said. “We will always deliver funding to improve education for students no matter where they live.”

Schools selected to receive a new hall had submitted an infrastructure plan to Education Queensland, which made the funding decisions.

Ms Jones accused the LNP of hypocrisy for criticising the program when local MPs who had received a school hall in their electorate praised the investments. “The state LNP have been caught out saying one thing in Brisbane and another thing at home,” she said.

A spokesman for Ms Jones said the government was building four schools in LNP electorates for about $150 million.