Budget Estimates and Related Papers 2018-2019

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-103878

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Budget Estimates and Related Papers 2018-2019

Debate resumed from 20 September 2018.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (10:40:06):

Last week I spoke in a take‑note debate and addressed some of the recent State budget announcements that will benefit and already have benefited the people of New South Wales and, more importantly, the people of my electorate. Our State's record investment in health means that the people of my electorate and surrounding electorates will benefit from the state‑of‑the‑art facilities at St George Hospital. The Liberal‑Nationals Government has announced $11.5 million to update the birthing and delivery suite, which is a great win for our community.

I will also briefly touch on our Government's impressive investment in education to identify the most urgent needs of the education sector and to meet them with record expenditure. With many people choosing the St George region to raise their families, population growth in our local community has been rapid. Not surprisingly, school enrolments are growing steadily, as they are across the State. Many regions in Greater Sydney are experiencing similar challenges and they need to build infrastructure and to increase services to keep up with the growing demand. Recognising this challenge, the New South Wales Government is committed to building new schools.

Penshurst Public School will reap the benefits of this impressive announcement. The existing Penshurst Public School will be knocked down and completely rebuilt to respond to population growth in the local government area. This new school plan will include the removal of all buildings, the construction of 47 new future‑focused teaching spaces, a new library, new staff facilities, a new administration block, a new covered outdoor learning area and a new hall. It will also maximise the rooftop open play space area. Students of Penshurst Public School will temporarily be relocated to Peakhurst West Public School from the beginning of term 1 2019 until the building works are completed in mid 2020. I am incredibly proud of this side of the Chamber, which recognises the need to future‑focus in our planning for the next generation. Penshurst Public School currently has 439 students enrolled. Following the school's redevelopment, it will have the capacity to more than double, having the ability to cater for more than 1,000 enrolled students.

Peakhurst West Public School will also reap the benefits of this Government's record expenditure on education. The library will be refurbished, with new paint, carpets, books and bookshelves, and it will benefit from an interactive whiteboard. The toilet block at the school will also be refurbished and all classrooms will be refreshed with new paint and new carpet. Moreover, the school will receive new playground equipment, which will be installed in the main playground area. I am pleased to say that in the electorate of Oatley we have some of the best schools in the community and some of the most capable and distinguished teachers and principals. Being married to a high school teacher, I see first‑hand how much work goes into educating the next generation and raising students to be responsible citizens. Being able to teach in new facilities with the necessary resources is the bare minimum that the Government can provide.

Public school education in New South Wales is thriving and will only be further encouraged with the funding injection that this financial year's State budget offers. My son James will be part of the public school education system next year when he starts kindergarten at Mortdale Public School. The Liberal‑Nationals Government wants young children to have the best possible start to life. That is why $474.3 million of Start Strong funding will go towards subsidising all three‑year‑olds in community preschools in 2019. This will ensure universal access to two years of early childhood education, making New South Wales the first State in Australia to do so.

Business interrupted.