For the first time in the State’s history the school maintenance backlog will be wiped to zero, ensuring students across NSW enjoy the best possible learning environments.
Tuesday’s announcement means every maintenance job currently outstanding at the State’s 2200 public schools will be cleared.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government inherited a $1 billion school maintenance backlog from the former Labor government.
“We have worked hard to reduce the maintenance backlog in regional NSW and across the State and I am delighted to confirm we will now clear it completely,” Mr Barilaro said. “It is only because of the strong economic management of the Nationals in Government that we are in a position to keep our schools in their best possible condition, and fix the problems created by Labor’s neglect.”
“When Labor was last in government, they closed schools, sacked teachers and racked up a huge maintenance liability as our schools fell into disrepair.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro
Labor spent less on maintaining our schools in their last four years than our Government has spent in this financial year alone.
NSW Nationals Assistant Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the Government would invest a further $449 million to clear the backlog by July 2020, bringing the total investment to nearly $1.3 billion.
“We are making the largest investment into public school infrastructure by any State Government in Australian history. This investment shows our commitment to maintaining existing schools as well as building new ones,” Ms Mitchell said. “We’re delivering more than 170 new and upgraded schools across the State and we will ensure that each school provides the world-class facilities that our students and teachers deserve.”
The Nationals in Government are investing a further $449 million to clear the backlog by July 2020, bringing the total investment to nearly $1.3 billion, and allowing schools to accelerate important work such as carpeting, roof maintenance and painting. We are delivering the largest investment into public school infrastructure by any State Government in Australian history.
