The latest NSW budget shows that the Perrottet Government under-delivered on 113 school infrastructure projects – spending $1.26 billion less on school infrastructure than was promised in the 2021-22 budget.
 
In the 2021-22 budget, the Liberal-National Government promised to spend $2.71 billion on major school infrastructure projects.
 
However, analysis from the 2022-23 budget shows that the NSW Government failed to meet its spending commitments on a majority of its promised projects from last year’s budget.
 
For example, $13,905,000 was promised for a new primary school in Tallawong financial year but this year’s budget shows that only $249,000 was spent – a massive underspend of $13,656,000.
 
Further, the NSW Government’s own website shows that the Tallawong primary school is still in the planning phase – with construction yet to commence in the fast-growing north west Sydney suburb.
 
The Government also delayed its Metropolitan and Regional School Renewal programs by two years, spending $314,874,000 less than promised in 2021-22 across both schemes.
 
NSW Labor Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Education Prue Car said, “The Liberal-National Government made big promises on school infrastructure, but now school children and families are left waiting endlessly for urgent upgrades.”
 
“After 12 years in charge, this government has failed to keep up with the infrastructure needs of NSW families while education outcomes continue to decline.”
 
“We don’t have an Education Premier, we have an education failure”.
 
Other examples of projects with underspends where construction has yet to commence include:

• The upgrade for Randwick Boys and Girls High School, promised $5,000,000 but only $154,000 was spent.
• The Carlingford West Public School Upgrade, promised $61,052,000 but only $5,492,000 was spent.
• The Seven Hills High School skills upgrade project, promised $9,079,000 but only $807,000 was spent.
• Rydalmere Education Campus, promised $13,701,000 but only $2,224,000 was spent.
• Macquarie Park Education Campus, promised $16,125,000 but only $2,641,000 was spent.

 
The NSW Upper House is holding an inquiry today into the NSW Government’s delivery of school infrastructure.  
 

PRUE CAR MP
NSW LABOR DEPUTY LEADER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING