Victoria Minister for Education Martin Dixon

Dixon Announces Maintenance Audit Of All Government Schools Following 11 Years Of Labor Neglect

Victor P Taffa

The Victorian Coalition Government today announced a full audit of the condition of buildings in every government school across the state.

Education Minister Martin Dixon said the Condition Assessment Audit was needed following almost 11 years of neglect by the previous Labor government and would provide a comprehensive snapshot of the condition of all government schools.

The audit is part of the government’s $100 Million school maintenance fund and will be used to help prioritise maintenance needs across the state’s schools.

The additional $100 Million maintenance funding will increase annual maintenance spending from $59 Million under Labor to $87.5 Million a year over the next four years.

The Coalition Government’s maintenance funding boost reverses Labor’s cuts to maintenance funding which dropped from $73 million in 2000-01 to just $59 million in 2009- 10, a 20 % cut over 10 years.

“This audit has two purposes, to better direct maintenance funding to urgent projects, and to give principals the information they need to better direct their annual maintenance funding.” Mr. Dixon said.

“Thanks to the Victorian Coalition Government’s extra $100 Million school maintenance boost announced in this year’s State Budget, annual funding for school maintenance has grown by $25 Million to almost $90 Million in 2011-12.”

The audit will provide an assessment of the condition of all classrooms, outbuildings and covered walkways.

“The Government understands that principals know their schools best and this audit will provide them with another tool to make decisions on maintenance work that addresses the needs of the school community.” Mr. Dixon said.

“We are committed to providing better schools for Victorian students because we know that making an investment in our schools is making an investment in Victorian students.”

The Coalition’s maintenance audit will begin next week and is expected to be finalised by May next year.

In addition to the establishment of the $100 Million school maintenance fund announced in this year’s state Budget, the Government also allocated $208 Million in capital works funding for new and upgraded schools in the 2012/13 financial year.