Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for EDUCATION, Ms PALMER

Before I ask my question of the Minister for Education, I will also congratulate her on taking on this very significant portfolio. One of my first phone calls after the election to congratulate her, particularly on being Minister for Education, was to raise a long standing concern I have on behalf of my community of Montello, about the inadequacy of the current funding allocation to upgrade Montello Primary School, to make it safe, accessible, fit for purpose and contemporary, just as every school should be.

The minister was expecting my call and committed to visiting Montello Primary School immediately after school holidays to see it in action. She also promised to invite me to this visit. I did not receive the invitation, but I know she has visited. My question:

1. Following your visit Minister, will you ensure additional funding is provided to ensure all requested and necessary works can be included and completed on this long overdue upgrade?

2. If so, how much extra funding will be allocated and when? If not, what are you suggesting is cut from the essential plan to meet the budget?

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the member for the question. Yes, I did make it a priority to get to Montello Primary School. I have been hearing about that in this place for a number of years now and it was a fantastic visit.

Ms Forrest - My spies were out.

Ms PALMER - You do not need spies, you can just ask me directly at any time, as you did in a phone call.

It was great to meet with Dion McCall, the principal there and Emma Short, the business manager who also joined us. We had a great opportunity to tour the school and have some intimate time to talk about the journey that school has been on. As you know, the construction tender has gone out for the redevelopment. I am advised it went out on April 27 and look forward to seeing the results of the tender as they come back in. We do not know how that will come back in. It did go out to tender as the full scope. I am very interested to see-

Ms Forrest - The full scope as requested by the school and the principal there?

Ms PALMER - I believe so, yes. That is what I was advised when I-

Ms Forrest - Including all the necessary components?

Ms PALMER - That is what I was advised when I asked that question. When that tender comes back, I will certainly be taking a very close look at that. Funding has been committed. Then there was another amount put on top of that. I was really moved by the passion and the advocacy of the principal and the business manager. They were very open and frank about the situation the school is in. The great thing is when that tender comes back in, I will be able to see very clearly in my head exactly the spaces they are talking about. But, until that tender process goes through, I cannot really answer any more of your question because we do not know what that will come back as. I have already displayed they are on my radar. I have certainly let the department know they are on my radar.

Ms Forrest - I do not give up. You know that. On behalf of the school, I will never give up.

Ms PALMER - You do not need to give up. You have been a great advocate.