School Infrastructure

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-115528

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

School Infrastructure

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I note that numerous members, including one Government member, have been called to order three times. That includes the member for Londonderry.

Ms Prue Car:

Thank you for the reminder, Madam Deputy Speaker. I might be chief amongst them.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I am looking after everybody. The member for Londonderry will be heard in silence.

Ms PRUE CAR (Londonderry) (17:01:13):

I move:

That this House:

(1)

Notes the Government has failed to build the schools that communities in New South Wales need.

(2)

Condemns the Government for delaying the new schools and school upgrades it promised across New South Wales whilst demountables fill playgrounds.

(3)

Calls on the Government to stop its delays and build the schools that it promised to communities across the State.

Someone once told me that a school is a building that has four walls with tomorrow inside. Unfortunately, too many families in suburbs right across the State cannot even get a building to start with. When did it become commonplace for working families to have to fight their own government in order to get the most basic of community assets—a local school? Under the Government, working families—who are up at the crack of dawn working 10 to 12 hours a day to pay their mortgages, bills and tolls, and provide for their families—are forced to fight to get a school for their children to go to.

School projects were promised by the Liberals and The Nationals. Whether at Green Square, Edmondson Park, Westmead or Rouse Hill, families in the suburbs of Sydney were promised schools and school upgrades that have not even started. It is the right of every child in New South Wales to attend their local public school. Under the Liberals, communities right across the State are still waiting for the promised schools that never come. Let us look at some of those broken promises. First, let us go to Murwillumbah. Before the election the Liberals and The Nationals promised school upgrade projects at both Murwillumbah East Public School and Murwillumbah High School. But after the election, the Liberals and The Nationals delayed the two upgrade projects with no reason and no community consultation. I wonder why!

Then a secret ministerial briefing marked "Sensitive"—you have always got to worry about those ones—was obtained through the Parliament. It revealed that the Liberals and The Nationals broke their promises—surprise, surprise. Instead, they had hatched a secret plan for the forced closure of four schools and their merger into one big mega school. That decision was kept secret all year, with zero community consultation. In October the Government announced that instead of the upgrades it promised at the election all the schools would be amalgamated into one giant K-12 mega school. Again, there was zero community consultation with the four Murwillumbah school communities. That means that Wollumbin High School, Murwillumbah Public School and Murwillumbah East Public School will be gone through forced closure. Murwillumbah High School is to be converted into an American‑style mega school. The Liberals and The Nationals think they know better. When it comes to local schools, they think they know so much better than the mums and dads of our State. As a result of those broken promises, families are left with no say about their local communities.

Let us look at Gregory Hills Public School—we would look at it if it existed. Parents report being told as early as 2012 that there would be a primary school. In 2018, before the 2019 election, the Government promised a school again. Government advertising signage went up on the fencing around the vacant site, only to be pulled down months later. Now a group of working parents has been forced to start a campaign to pressure their Government to honour its commitment. Local Liberal member Peter Sidgreaves has not even met with the group of parents in his own electorate. How slack can he get? Because the school is not built, the neighbouring schools at Gledswood Hills are well over capacity. Only 12 months after opening, a brand-new school has 12 demountables filling its playground.

In Sydney's north-west in my electorate of Londonderry we have Marsden Park High School and Northbourne Public School. On the eve of the last election this Government promised a high school to families in Marsden Park. Two years later the site at Newpark Estate is still empty. Instead of growing young minds, the high school site only grows weeds in the dust. The Liberals have not provided this growing community with a time line or a budget. Families have been left completely in the dark. Northbourne Public School in Marsden Park has 800 students already. It is a demountable‑only school. The students are all boxed in by demountables. It is one of the largest primary schools in the State, but every single student is in a demountable while they wait for the promised school that is supposed to be open already. There is still no sign of a high school. That is what Liberal mismanagement of education means for working families.

Members of the Liberal Government like to pat themselves on the back, but they ignore local communities. They have said to local communities, "We are not in your corner," but I will tell them who is in their corner. It is the Opposition. The Opposition has stood with parents in Gregory Hills, fighting for the primary school. The member for Lismore is fighting for the parents of Murwillumbah.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Oatley to order for the first time.

Ms PRUE CAR:

The member for Macquarie Fields and his community are fighting for the promised schools at Edmondson Park; the member for Blacktown is fighting for schools in Riverstone; the member for Auburn is fighting for schools for her growing community; the member for Newcastle is fighting for the phantom Newcastle Education Precinct; and members representing the electorates of Wyong, Gosford and The Entrance are fighting for the classrooms that the Central Coast needs. Instead, we have a government that promises the world and then goes into witness protection. Under Gladys Berejiklian, school results are falling and playgrounds have become concrete jungles full of demountables. The Opposition will continue to fight for working families in our suburbs, on the coast and in regional Australia to ensure that they are not forgotten and ignored by our crooked, 10‑year‑old Liberal Government, which has simply stopped caring about the people it is supposed to represent.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY (Riverstone) (17:08:18):

The New South Wales Government is investing a record $7 billion in school infrastructure over four years. When it was in government Labor could only dream about that number. In the past few years we have completed school projects in Armidale, Wagga, south‑western Sydney, north‑western Sydney, the Central Coast, Queanbeyan, inner Sydney, Maitland, the North Coast and in a host of other locations across the State.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Port Stephens to order for the first time.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY:

There has never been such an extensive building program in New South Wales public schools. Before the 2019 election we promised a big building program—200 schools over the four‑year term. Guess what? We have delivered 110 projects in the two years since 2019.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Prospect to order for the first time.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY:

The member for Prospect can do the maths, I hope—110 projects in two years. I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out all words after "That" with a view to inserting instead:

"This House:

(1)Notes the record $7 billion investment the Government has made in building new and upgraded schools across New South Wales.

(2)Congratulates the Government on delivering over 110 new and upgraded schools since January 2019."

As I said, the Government is investing $7 billion in school infrastructure. One can only imagine what that number would have been reduced to if New South Wales had had the misfortune to have that lot opposite in government. Their blind ideological opposition to budget discipline and asset recycling means they would not have had the money to undertake even a fraction of the school building program that we are delivering.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Prospect to order for the second time.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY:

They would have no money! It is pretty simple: If a government cannot manage money, it cannot pay for new infrastructure. Luckily for those opposite, talk is cheap, because they can talk about building things and delivering projects, and they can talk about how they would spend the money they would not have because they oppose the policies that make the money available. They are happy to sound like they care about schools, but they are not prepared to do the hard yards to find the capital to make school infrastructure possible. The people of New South Wales do not want a party that is all talk and no action. That is why Labor will stay in opposition for a very long time.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Port Stephens to order for the second time.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY:

Its record in government was embarrassing. Its current policies are proof that it would be just as woeful if it ever got back into government. On the other hand, this Liberal‑Nationals Government, led by Gladys Berejiklian and John Barilaro, has delivered 110 new and upgraded schools since January 2019. Some 110 have been delivered. They have been built, not simply talked about or promised. They are there. That is what the Liberals and The Nationals do. We have heard about some of the many school projects that are in the pipeline at various stages of planning, site acquisition, design and construction. All of them will be delivered, just like those 110 projects were.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I remind the member for Londonderry that she is on three calls to order.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY:

In the north‑west, where I come from, we have delivered the following upgrades: Riverstone High School, 12 extra classrooms, and administration and canteen areas; Schofields Public School, 27 new classrooms, administration area, library and a covered outdoor learning area [COLA]; Riverbank Public School, 15 extra classrooms, administration area and a COLA; and Quakers Hill East Public School, 12 new classrooms, performance studio, digital hub and administration area. North Kellyville and Galungara public schools have been built. Northbourne Public School, which we have heard about, is currently a pop‑up school. Permanent facilities will be finished mid-year. Previously we heard about Jordan Springs Public School from the member for Londonderry. However, we do not hear about it now because it has been built—delivered as promised. On the way in the north‑west are Samuel Gilbert Public School, John Palmer Public School, Glenwood High School and Rouse Farm near Tallawong. Marsden Park High School is in the planning pipeline.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Riverstone has the call.

Mr KEVIN CONOLLY:

I make a quick comment for the benefit of the member for Blacktown about Rouse Farm, the school being delivered near Tallawong: There is no development application for demolition because it is not needed. Demolition of the old house is a complying development and that is underway. When the member gets to his feet next time, he should not make a fool of himself. In the Macarthur region we have delivered Oran Park High School, Oran Park Public School, Barramurra Public School, Yandelora School, Bardia Public School, Ajuga School, Campbell House School, Glenfield Park School, stage one of Gledswood Public School, the Hurlstone Agricultural High School upgrade and the Ingleburn High School project.

All those projects have been delivered in the two years since January 2019. We hear rhetoric from members on the other side of the House about how much they care about communities. These are real projects, delivered for the people of New South Wales by this side of the House that will do something about it. Yes, there is more work to do. Everyone knows there is only one side of the House that will ever do it. The Government has the runs on the board—110 school projects delivered in two years.

Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (17:13:33):

I welcome the motion moved by my colleague the member for Londonderry. She has kept the Liberal Government accountable for the schools that it is not delivering in the areas that need them most. While the Liberal Government has let overdevelopment run rampant in parts of my electorate—indeed, in most of south‑west Sydney and western Sydney—and collected hundreds of millions of dollars in stamp duty, it has neglected and continued to ignore south‑west and western Sydney families and the schools that their kids need and deserve. The Government can make as many re‑announcements of an announcement of a previous announcement as it wants, but the facts never change. If we were to hand this Liberal Government a report card for delivering public schools to south-west Sydney, I guarantee it would get an F for fail. Perhaps the Liberal Government needs a refresher course in mathematics because something just does not add up. South‑west Sydney is one of the fastest-growing regions as many thousands of people continue to call the area home. But this Liberal Government has consistently failed to deliver the infrastructure our community desperately needs.

Let us look at the history of Edmondson Park in my electorate, for example. Thousands of people have already moved into the area, but hundreds of kids are missing out on attending their local school because the number of classrooms that have been delivered is a big fat zero. Years ago the Liberal Government promised a school would be built. In fact, residents were sold the promise of a new school in Edmondson Park in the master plan before deciding to buy their home: Buy your home here and we will build you a school. But they were pretty pictures on glossy documents that meant nothing, which sums up this Government perfectly: always dressed up to look good but does nothing. It is not an unreasonable expectation that a family's children can attend a nearby public school, especially when that was promised to them. But for years local residents have heard crickets when it came to progress.

And let us not forget the enormous impact on families moving into the local area. Many local families tell me of their frustration and angst over the lack of a public school in Edmondson Park, with parents having to travel considerable distances to take their kids to school. Recently one constituent wrote to me stating he was $7,000 out of pocket from transport costs getting his two kids to and from school. That is absurd and totally unfair on families in south‑west Sydney. It is all because an empty block of land lies dormant in Edmondson Park and Gregory Hills waiting for a school to be built. The Liberal Government did not do its homework. For nearly two years it delayed the planning process that would have delivered a school for Edmondson Park. It sat on its hands while local families were left waiting and frustrated that their local public school was not being delivered as promised. Perhaps the Government should have turned up for class instead of being a chronic truant; maybe then it would have learnt how to keep its promises instead of making continual excuses.

It is hardly rocket science that the need for infrastructure grows as the population grows, especially when it was the Government that approved for tens of thousands of people to move into the area through its overdevelopment agenda. I always say that this Government wears the dunce's hat because it fails to deliver time and again. That is why it deserves to be put in detention. Perhaps the Premier and her education Minister need to write lines. Let me offer some examples, "I must do better"; "I must not offer false hope"; "I must stop the lip‑service and actually build a school in Edmondson Park and Gregory Hills just as I promised." Even this morning the education Minister had the hide to call for greater accountability and meeting of targets. She said that if a school failed to meet a target then it would be held accountable and support would be offered. Give me strength.

If only this Liberal Government applied the same rule to itself! It would not be offered support, it would be suspended! When it comes to educational accountability and an inability to meet targets, the Government does not need to look at the members of the teaching fraternity; it needs to look in the mirror. As our Programme for International Student Assessment results continue to decline and our public schools in the neediest areas continue to be delayed, the Government just finds someone else to blame. It is the Sergeant Schultz of education, "I see nothing; I know nothing." That is all it does. It never delivers the schools that our local community needs.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (17:19:15):

We will not be lectured to by members opposite when it comes to education in this State. If they want a fight at the next election on education we will be happy to have one.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! I call the member for Coogee to order for the first time.

Mr MARK COURE:

In fact, under Labor 90 schools were closed and many classrooms cut, slashed and burned. Those guys opposite did not care about education when they were in government. I say this: If Labor ever gets back into government, no school is safe. There could be cuts in your electorate—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Oatley will direct his comments through the Chair.

Mr MARK COURE:

No school under Labor is safe.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I remind the member for Londonderry that she is on three calls to order. I call the member for Prospect to order for the third time.

Mr MARK COURE:

We on this side of the House have invested $7 billion in education over the next four years as part of the recent budget so that our children have the best resources, facilities and schools. Investing in schools means investing in communities.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Port Stephens to order for the third time.

Mr MARK COURE:

The Government is rolling out its plan already with 200 new and upgraded schools across the State, including four in my electorate: Penshurst Public School, Hurstville Grove Infants School, Hurstville Public School and Penshurst West Public School. Compare that to when Labor was in government. What did it do in my local community? It closed Narwee High School. In fact, when Labor got rid of Premier Morris Iemma it closed his high school two weeks later—that is how much it liked the guy. Penshurst Public School is now officially open. It includes 47 brand‑new classrooms, a brand‑new library, a hall and a covered outdoor learning area. That is in addition to open play spaces, playing courts, seating, shade structures, running tracks and much more. There are new administration and staff facilities, along with new staff and student amenities. I again thank the education Minister in the other place, the Hon. Sarah Mitchell, and Premier Gladys Berejiklian for opening that space a couple of weeks ago to mark the beginning of term 1.

Over at Penshurst West Public School the works are done, dusted and delivered for the students, who are absolutely loving it. Upgrades to Penshurst West Public School include new modern teaching spaces and facilities, seven new classrooms, a new student amenities building, a special programs room and enhanced open spaces. Hurstville Grove Infants School, which is just up the road from where I live, has now received a brand‑new multipurpose facility that can be used as an additional learning space, a special needs area, before‑ and after‑school care and much more. It also features kitchen facilities, air conditioning and a quiet room for additional use. Up the road, Hurstville Public School now boasts an upgraded inclusive learning space, which is the second—perhaps even third—upgrade since we came to office in 2010. That is fantastic news for our local community because those school services are vastly needed for our local community. The Government is investing heavily in schools not just in my electorate but across the State—from the south to the north, from the beaches to the bush.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I remind the member for Port Stephens that she is on three calls to order.

Mr MARK COURE:

We are increasing our education spend to build and rebuild many of the schools that were neglected under Labor for so many years. We are investing in education for our children's future. That investment stretches across all stages of education, from early childhood to primary and secondary schools through to our TAFE network. We are getting on with the job of rebuilding schools across New South Wales. Labor closed 90 schools when it was in Government. There were cuts to education, closures of classrooms—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Kiama will come to order. The member for Oatley does not need his help.

Mr MARK COURE:

On this side of the House we are getting on with the job of rebuilding the education system. When it comes to education, Labor cannot be trusted.

Mr STEPHEN BALI (Blacktown) (17:24:08):

I thank the member for Londonderry for bringing the original motion to this Chamber and the member for Riverstone for moving a confused amendment to the motion. The amendment is quite disappointing because, unfortunately, it just reflects the member's nature and his representation of Riverstone. His sycophantic nature has him praising the Government at every opportunity.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Riverstone will come to order.

Mr STEPHEN BALI:

It took him four minutes to even mention Riverstone in his contribution. He should take some lessons from the member for Oatley, who for almost five minutes spoke about all the upgrades in his electorate. The member for Riverstone could mention only two schools by name, without giving any details. It is so disappointing for the north-west sector, which the member for Riverstone said back in 2011 in this Chamber was the "fastest-growing population in New South Wales and desperately needs infrastructure". He went on further to say, and I totally agree with him, that if you do not deliver it you have to account to the electors the reasons for non-delivery. The member for Riverstone should be held to account because if we look at the north‑west growth area and the lack of delivery, 120,000 people have moved into that area. That, in itself, means that the area needs to have resources, whether it is roads or hospitals. Under the member for Riverstone's watch everything has been cancelled or there have been marginal upgrades.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Riverstone to order for the first time.

Mr STEPHEN BALI:

The member for Riverstone is happy if people in his electorate get crumbs off the table. The schools are not built for purpose. On day one they have already got demountable classrooms. The member for Riverstone spoke about Schofields Road, where the development application [DA] has been withdrawn. I am a little bit worried because when the member for Riverstone says that you do not need a DA, it is a compliant DA, to me that says they are using private certifiers. The Government will not even trust Blacktown council to do the certification.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The Clerk will stop the clock. The member for Blacktown will resume his seat. I call the member for Kiama to order for the first time. The member for Blacktown has the call and will be heard in silence.

Mr STEPHEN BALI:

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for taking control. The member for Kiama has been interjecting all day; he should be on three calls to order. Schofields Public School is just around the corner from Schofields Road in the Tallawong precinct, which I spoke about earlier. There are 770 students enrolled at the school, which is way over the cap of 532—some 45 per cent higher than the cap that was put on the school—and there are 20 demountable classrooms. Four minutes drive down the road is John Palmer Public School, which has 961 enrolments, although 416 is the cap—that is 131 per cent over the cap—and 21 demountable classrooms, all on the playgrounds. Glenwood High School has 1,405 enrolled students, although it has a cap of 1,060, and 19 demountable classrooms.

The Government is not building these schools fit for purpose; they are not able to take on the massive growth in the area. Across the three schools there are around 60 demountable classrooms, which are on the playgrounds. How are those schools going to have fitness for education and drive excellence in education when the students do not have the right atmosphere for learning? Even in my own area in Doonside, a whole area of Western Sydney Parklands got carved out for housing. There are 3,000 new residents in the new estate of Bungarribee, but not one single cent has been invested by this Government in Doonside Public School. The students are not even going to Doonside Public School now because it is so overcrowded. The school has not changed since I was a boy going to that school. Essentially, students are going to private schools. This Government seems to have a private school agenda by stealth: If it does not build the schools, private schools will build in the area and everyone will go to them.

The member for Riverstone spoke about the Government being able to control the budget and how it is delivering. In 2011 he said , "Every year under Labor the revenues exceeded expenses." We managed the budget and we built what was required at the time. The problem is: Is this Government going to deliver? There was a $156 million backlog when Labor lost government, but it is now $1 billion since this Government came to power, and still nothing has been done in our local area.

Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed) (17:30:07):

I am 100 per cent committed to the Tweed and our schools.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Tweed will be heard in silence.

Mr GEOFF PROVEST:

Unlike other members here, I served four years in opposition—2007 to 2011. I witnessed Labor closing schools and I also witnessed the last round of the public-private partnerships that Labor started. I saw the angst at the time with the Teachers Federation.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Kiama will come to order. I am trying to hear what the member for Tweed has to say.

Mr GEOFF PROVEST:

I shook my head. I am a product of a public school system. My father was a primary school principal and actually taught me on a number of occasions, so I am big supporter of the public school system. I find it sad to hear the member for Londonderry basically run down her public school system and talk about the lack of facilities and the lack of opportunities.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Tweed will be heard in silence.

Mr GEOFF PROVEST:

In my particular area, under Labor, during the four years I served in opposition, I saw virtually no upgrades. I saw a large number of demountable classrooms and I saw not much happening. That was representative of the North Coast overall at that time. Fast-forward from 2011 to where we are now: Renovations have begun at Tweed River High School, South Tweed Primary School, Kingscliff High School and Kingscliff Primary School—in the vicinity of $120 million worth of upgrades. Some of those schools had not seen upgrades for many years under Labor, but now, more than planning is taking place; the partitions are up and the schools have been consulted widely, including the P&Cs. The principals think it is one of the best things they have ever seen in their teaching careers.

The great Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning visited Tweed River High School late last year. The Government has committed an extra $20 million for a trade school at the school. Before that, we committed to and finished off a $25 million upgrade to Pottsville Primary School. Our schools are doing very well; we are offering first‑class education. Having lived through the Labor era I can tell the House that I have never seen anything like the number of upgrades and the amount of consultation within those schools. I strongly suggest that members on the other side of the House not listen to the local Federal member on Murwillumbah High School because I believe she is rather out of touch with the community's feeling.

At the last election the local Federal member campaigned on a hospital and was bagging me continually on the hospital. Guess what? We are building the hospital and I won the whole 19 polling booths and increased the margin. I have been told by the local media up at Murwillumbah that when the Opposition leader, the Hon. Anthony Albanese, came to town he was rather embarrassed in front of the media about the Murwillumbah High School issue. So I do not think we will see the Hon. Anthony Albanese come back with the local Federal Labor member anytime soon because it turned out to be a PR disaster. At the moment there is consultation going on with the P&Cs and the wider groups.

I know the member for Ballina had a school amalgamated in her area a while ago. From all reports it is going extraordinarily well and everyone is extraordinarily happy with it. I do not like the term "Americanise". Once again, the teachers and principals in Murwillumbah tell me they are very much in favour of what the Government is providing and going through. I am a politician; I am not a teacher. I listen to the teachers. I listen to my doctors in the hospital. That is where the reality is. If those professionals in the field of education, health and whatever are in favour of it, it behoves everyone in this place to deliver what they need, because that is our job. We deliver what they need. We do not dictate to them and tell them what they need. That would be a very grave mistake. I support the amendment moved by the great member for Riverstone.

Ms TAMARA SMITH (Ballina) (17:35:52):

I contribute on behalf of The Greens in support of the motion moved by the member for Londonderry in the public interest debate.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member will be heard in silence.

Ms TAMARA SMITH:

We support the motion. I know that the member for Newtown and the member for Balmain agree with me when I say that growing public schools by stealth through demountable classrooms is mean, inefficient and completely undercuts the needs and aspirations of students and their families and teachers. We need to fund our schools properly. It is very disappointing to hear so many politicians talk about themselves. The question is: What is the issue, what are the problems and how do we fix them? I agree with the member for Tweed that community consultation is absolutely crucial. Sadly the void seems to show us that the conversations are not with teachers or with school students and their families.

We have seen chronic underinvestment in school infrastructure over many decades. It is fair to say that New South Wales public schools are overflowing as a result of that under‑resourcing. It is not me who is saying that: The Audit Office of New South Wales has reported on chronic underinvestment in New South Wales government school infrastructure and how that has affected existing assets. Basically we are seeing a situation where schools have to fundraise for basic infrastructure. Schools apply to me for Community Building Partnership grants every year for things like bubblers. Mullumbimby High School had to apply to refill a water bubbler for students. I said to them, "Are you serious? You cannot get that from the Department of Education?" I know that is happening across the State. P&Cs are having to fundraise for really basic things.

Until 2017, the department did not have a high‑level, long‑term school assets strategic plan. It was really based on demountable classrooms, which could sometimes be there for decades. As a way of growing schools, it reflects bean counters and a fiscally conservative way of looking at schools. Current statistics tell us that permanent classrooms in 37 per cent of government schools are fully utilised and 250 schools are operating beyond their permanent classroom capacity. This is a crisis. It is not good enough to say, "We're doing this," and, "There is this school," and point to these examples. We are talking about a whole system. The whole model of growing New South Wales public schools is based on fiscal conservatism. You have a situation where you have bean counters and architects deciding the pedagogy in schools. We have seen that with the trend of open plan schools and classrooms.

The Deputy President of the New South Wales Teachers Federation recently said, "We cannot have architects determining pedagogy." I would argue that we cannot have bean counters determining the quality of our schools, the bricks and mortar and where our students are learning. I acknowledge the work of the department under former education Minister Adrian Piccoli in overseeing the development of the School Assets Strategic Plan. But unfortunately the Audit Office is also telling us that that is not and has not been funded adequately by the Minister and the department is not getting the money it needs to deliver that. A lot of elements of the School Assets Strategic Plan are very controversial. As we heard today, closing down smaller schools and amalgamating them into super schools as a trend and a way of alleviating the crisis in school infrastructure is only going to work if communities are onside. We are definitely not seeing that in the Murwillumbah area. I disagree with the member for Tweed: The community is not saying that.

I can say that the experiment with the Ballina Coast High School had extensive community consultation, but it has been a hard road. Because what you lose are those little ecosystems, those small school villages and the culture. Then when you amalgamate into a super school, it is a very different vibe. Whether you call it Americanised or not, it is a very different place. It is time we put education, students and teachers in the school communities at the helm of decisions about school infrastructure, the maintenance of bricks‑and‑mortar classrooms and the planning for new schools. As long as you have accountants, architects and bean counters in charge, you are saying that best practice means nothing. You are saying that a first‑class education in public schools is not achievable or desirable and basically that you are going to be constrained by fiscal matters forever. You do a disservice to the amazing education that students and teachers co‑create when you approach schools in this way. It is a matter of priority. COVID has shown us that and it has shown us that you can prioritise public education. I urge the Government to do better.

Ms PRUE CAR (Londonderry) (17:40:58):

In reply: We have seen today that the arrogance and cockiness of the Government really knows no bounds. This is actually very serious. If you were to go and speak to parents at Gregory Hills, Marsden Park, Edmondson Park and Randwick, where all the schools are overcrowded, and at Medowie, where they do not have a high school—

Ms Anna Watson:

At West Dapto.

Ms PRUE CAR:

The Government has not invested in public education at all at West Dapto, which is growing. If the genuine reaction of the Government, after speaking to those parents, is to come into this State's Parliament and pat itself on its back, then its level of arrogance knows no bounds. The amendment from the member for Riverstone is one of the most tone‑deaf things I have seen in this place. The Government's reaction to not building schools in growing areas is to say that, actually, it is doing an incredible job. That is just incredibly tone-deaf.

The member for Riverstone should get his facts straight about many of those schools, even those in his own electorate, which—the member for Blacktown is right—is one of the fastest growing areas in the whole State of New South Wales. I share that North West Growth Sector with the member for Riverstone. He talks about Schofields Public School. He did not mention that the mismanagement in that area has meant that the school was only built for 600 students when it had more than 700 students before it was even finished. The school now has 20 demountables on the playground—a school that was built for 600, which now has 1,000 students.

He mentioned Jordan Springs Public School in my electorate, which is not even eight or nine months old, where the Government has not funded stage two. Some 230 kindergarten students have begun, classes are being taught in the library and demountables are already on the play spaces at that brand‑new school—a school that we only got because the community fought for it. This Government has absolutely no credibility when it comes to building schools, particularly in the fastest growing areas of the State. Families know it and they need a better explanation. The families of Marsden Park, Gregory Hills, Schofields and around the Tallawong precinct really need and shamefully are not getting an explanation from Gladys Berejiklian, who refuses to go to these areas and explain to these parents why they are being sold pups, why they are mortgaged to the hilt to build their dream family homes and why they cannot get schools out of this Government.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Londonderry has moved a motion, to which the member for Riverstone has moved an amendment. The question is that the amendment be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes45

Noes39

Majority6

Amendment agreed to.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The question is that the motion as amended be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes45

Noes38

Majority7

Motion as amended agreed to.