The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on its cuts to maintenance spending at public schools across the state.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Minns Labor Government’s so-called ‘infrastructure blitz’ is providing less funding than had been allocated by the former Liberal and Nationals Government.
“This is just more smoke and mirrors from Labor on school infrastructure,” Mr Speakman said.
“The Treasurer’s claim of a ‘record’ $1.08 billion pipeline for maintenance and minor capital works does not stand up to scrutiny as the Coalition allocated $1.3 billion on the same types of projects in the 2022-23 Budget.
“This $220 million cut is a result of Premier Chris Minns losing control of the Budget, and our public schools will be worse off as a result.”
Shadow Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said families deserve to know what the true impact of Labor’s lies will be.
“The detail of this announcement is where the shocking truth becomes apparent,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Labor is allocating less money for school maintenance this financial year than the former Liberal and Nationals Government because it handed the keys to the NSW Budget to the unions and is cutting expenditure across the board as a result.
“That means schools will have less money to spend on facilities for your kids. That’s
things like classroom and toilet upgrades, painting, carpets, fences and new windows and doors.”
Today’s announcement follows Labor’s decision to rip $150m out of public school budgets mid-way through the year, forcing school principals to consider cutting staff and programs to find savings.