Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am particularly pleased to be able to rise in the Main Committee today to talk about the Investing in Our Schools Program and the more than $1.3 million in government funding that we have recently been able to attract to our electorate. These funds are necessary because the state government of Queensland serially underinvests in government school infrastructure and does not help non-government school infrastructure either.

The government schools that have recently received funding include Buddina State School, with $80,365 for several projects including new shade structures, protective awnings, library refurbishments and shade structure replacements. Buderim Mountain State School received $150,000 for hall extensions. Chancellor State College in Sippy Downs received $150,000 for covered walkways and sports courts. Chevallum State School received $86,900 for amenities and shade structure upgrade. Currimundi Special School received $85,699 for shade structures and play equipment upgrade. Kawana Waters junior campus in Bokarina, received $35,195 for information communication technology upgrade and Kawana Waters senior campus in Kawana Waters received $137,576 for enhancements to the Kawana Waters State High School learning environment. Maleny State High School received $116,183 for covered walkways and wheelchair access, science laboratory refurbishments, and music instruments and resources. Mooloolaba State School received $150,000 for classroom upgrade, and Mountain Creek State High School received $32,652 for a pool shade structure.

Independent schools include Harmony Montessori School at Buderim, which received $54,265 for airconditioning of classrooms and for resources and refurbishments. Caloundra City School at Pelican Waters received $75,000 for a playground area with equipment, shade and seating. Caloundra Christian College received $75,000 for airconditioning of classrooms and for an undercover walkway, and the Ananada Marga River School in Maleny received $75,000 for computers, printers, a projector, musical instruments and play equipment.

The Investing in Our Schools Program is a fantastic initiative of the Australian government because it helps fund projects that school communities themselves have identified as being necessary. This initiative has seen more than $1.5 million allocated to schools in the electorate of Fisher. The Investing in Our Schools Program is enormously popular because it cuts the state governments out of the equation and means that much-needed infrastructure—the needs for which have been ignored by the state government—is provided by the Australian government, indicating our keen interest in education and our determination to make sure that we as a community recognise that our children are our future. I am very proud of this initiative; I am proud of the more than $1.3 million in recent funding, and I am proud of the $1.5 million in earlier funding. I commend this program and I salute the schools. (Time expired)