Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett has welcomed the Newman Government’s commitment to provide a further $100 million to revitalise Queensland state schools.
Mr Bennett said the Fixing Our Schools Fund would target Queensland schools with the biggest maintenance backlogs and was on top of the $200 million committed in last year’s budget.
“Last year the Newman Government announced that it would spend $200 million to provide every state school in Queensland with $160,000 to fix existing maintenance issues inherited from the previous Labor Government,” Mr Bennett said.
“Thanks to that funding 26 schools in the Burnett electorate received over $2.4 million to repair footpaths, replace carpet and repaint.
“The extra $100 million will see schools like Bargara, Childers, Isis District High, Kalkie, Miriam Vale, Rosedale and Woongarra receive the extra funding they need to be revitalised.”
Mr Bennett said the Newman Government would clear the maintenance backlogs of 700 Queensland state schools within a year.
Mr Bennettsaid the previous Labor Government had left Queensland state schools with a $292 million maintenance backlog that saw schools in Burnett electorate fall into disrepair.
“Because of Labor’s neglect school facilities in the Burnett electorate were left to decay,” he said.
“Under the Newman Government, Queensland schools will once again be a place of pride for students to learn, teachers to teach and communities to gather.
“The Fixing Our Schools Fund will ensure Queensland remains a great state with great schools well into the future.”