Education Week

Published on: August 2019

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-106554


Education Week

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (17:01:31):

I move:

That this House:

Notes that this week is Education Week.

Acknowledges that every student, no matter where they live, should have access to a high-quality education.

Notes that the Government is delivering record education funding for students across the State, including $6.7 billion over the next four years to deliver more than 190 new and upgraded schools.

(4)Condemns the former Labor Government for closing more than 90 schools and leaving behind a record maintenance.

Let us talk about the good stuff, shall we? Let us talk about Education Week. I think every member in the House will be unified behind Education Week and this year's theme—every student, every voice—which seeks to ensure that students across New South Wales have the opportunity to speak up and that they have the confidence, resilience and capacity to share their views because we want our students to express their ideals and shape the world.

On Monday morning I had the great pleasure of joining a school in my electorate, Middle Harbour Public School, for its Education Week open day. I got to speak to a number of students and I thank the school captains, Sam and Katie, who did a wonderful job of leading the assembly that day. They were in charge of that assembly because Middle Harbour Public School believes in giving its students a voice and making sure they hold leadership positions.

I am excited that the Middle Harbour Public School community and its students are leading an investment into solar panels at the school because they believe in making environmental improvements and a better future for everybody. The Liberal-Nationals Government supports Education Week extensively. The Premier went to an Education Week open day at St Marys North Public School during the week. I think the member for Dubbo mentioned today that there was a live simulcast in Dubbo. That is because the New South Wales Government is making record investments to provide students with state-of-the-art learning facilities and to lift academic standards.

Ms Prue Car:

Ironically, you have never invested anything in St Marys North Public School, of which you would be aware, but anyway.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

The New South Wales Government is rolling out a number of unprecedented initiatives and I would love to tell you more about those, not just in the motion.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

Order! I call the member for Oatley to order for the second time.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

Everybody here knows that we are delivering an unprecedented infrastructure program for schools across New South Wales—that is, 190 new and upgraded schools through a $6.7 billion investment. It is an expanded Bump It Up program. The Premier speaks about it regularly. She spoke about it again in question time today, if those opposite were listening—we are not sure. The Bump It Up program is about ensuring that all schools in New South Wales have expanded targets in attendance, wellbeing, equity, numeracy and literacy. This is part of the heart of this motion—ensuring that every student, no matter where they live, should have access to a high quality education because we think students across this State deserve investment in their education and their future.

This has been a key issue to me and it is one of the reasons that I came into this place. In my inaugural speech I spoke about the role that education played in shaping me as an individual and the opportunities that I have had since then. I went to a couple of different schools. One was in the member for Cessnock's electorate. I shared my beautiful Nulkaba Primary School year 1 photo on social media this week—I hope the member for Cessnock gives it a like. I experienced regional schools and Sydney schools; I experienced the public education system and the private and Christian education system. My experience was that there was a disparity. This was 20 or 30 years ago, but there was a disparity in the provision of education and resources for our students, our teachers and their staff.

I want to make sure that there are no barriers to every child getting the best outcomes in their lives. In my own community of North Shore, that is something I invest in regularly in the way in which I advocate for my community. I am proud that among those 190 new and upgraded schools, two of my local primary schools are being upgraded and one of my local high schools—Neutral Bay Public School, North Sydney Demonstration School and Mosman High School. Those three schools are in various stages of planning and progressing upgrades. They will get rid of demountables and put in things like new halls and access to new facilities.

Ms Kate Washington:

Bless.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

As the member for Port Stephens says, bless. I thank her for acknowledging that students everywhere should receive investment in their facilities, classrooms, halls and play spaces.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):I will not put up with that behaviour.

Order! I remind the member for Port Stephens that she is already on three calls to order.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

As this motion says, every student matters. Even if the member for Port Stephens does not think students in my community matter, I think that they do. It is also important for us to reflect today on the fourth point of this motion. It would be a surprise to nobody in this place—we hear it quite often— that Labor let down the students of New South Wales in closing a record number of schools and leaving us with significant infrastructure backlogs. Since 2011 we on this side have been working through the infrastructure backlog that those opposite left behind. Through strong economic management and getting the books balanced, we have made sure that we are investing in bringing down that infrastructure backlog.

Those opposite did not want to invest in the needs of our students and the maintenance of our schools, but we are chipping away at that. I acknowledge former Minister for Education Rob Stokes and the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Leaning Sarah Mitchell, who joined me at Neutral Bay Public School to meet with students, teachers, staff and support staff, for the work they are doing to ensure we get that infrastructure backlog down and meet the commitments we have made in doing that. There is a range of other initiatives that we are putting in place as well. We are finally delivering cooler classrooms for our students, with air conditioning where needed. We are finally investing in that. This is something that those opposite like to tell us that they would do, quite regularly, but when they had those 16 long years in Government, what did they do?

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

Order! I call the member for Wollongong to order for the first time. I call the member for Keira to order for the third time.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

They closed down schools, they refused to invest in the infrastructure and maintenance backlog and they refused to invest in our students, teachers and support services. It is disappointing that those opposite had such a long time to make such a difference for our students and failed to do so.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

I remind the member for Gosford that she is on one call to order. I call the member for Gosford to order for the second time.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

It is clear that the Berejiklian Government has a mandate in New South Wales to get on with the job of investing in our schools through a record investment in infrastructure.

Ms PRUE CAR (Londonderry) (17:08:52):

It is pleasing to us on this side of the Chamber that the first topic we are discussing in this new format of a public interest debate is public education. But if we were to believe that this is the most important issue to be debated today, the most significant matter of public debate, you would think there would perhaps be more members on the Government benches. You would also think we would be able to debate this not as the sun is going down outside but perhaps at a time when the media were still able to listen and factor it into the nightly news.

What the Government has done with the new sessional orders in taking this debate away from 3.30 p.m. or four o'clock to now at five o'clock is nothing short of what we are getting used to with this Government—it is sneaky, it is secretive and it is all about avoiding scrutiny and shutting down the people of New South Wales, this slippery new arrangement. When it comes to the Government's motion today on this public interest debate, those opposite talk a big game. But let us talk about what is actually happening in schools throughout New South Wales. I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out paragraphs (3) and (4) with a view to inserting instead:

(3)Notes that 139 of the Government's schools promises made at the 2019 election are either unfunded or in planning limbo.

(4)Calls on the Government to provide funding and construction time lines for all school commitments made during the 2019 election campaign.

Government members can come in here at five o'clock, at the end of the day, and congratulate themselves on what they think is happening as much as they want. They can read the notes that the Premier's office has given them on what they think is happening in education, but let us talk about some examples. That is what we will be doing: shining some light on what is actually happening in these schools. Let us talk about the fact that the 139 schools the Government promised to build or upgrade have received zero funding allocation in the budget or have absolutely no time line attached to them. These are schools in new release areas where the Government has made councils release plans for houses, but where is the funding for the schools? These are areas like Catherine Field in the member for Camden's electorate, and Harrington Park. They include Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Leppington primary school, Marsden Park primary school in my electorate of Londonderry, the Meadowbank Education Precinct, and schools in the electorate of the member for Mulgoa—the list goes on.

Let us talk about the fact that there is overcrowding at our schools, which is absolutely unacceptable when this Government has known of population increases. This week families in the Parramatta area have approached the media because they are desperate for upgrades at a school in Parramatta East where the Government has allowed the number of units to explode, more and more people are moving in, without upgrading existing public schools. The mother of Lewis, a student in year 1 at Parramatta East, claims that her son spent the first term of year 1 without a classroom. That sounds to me like a government that is not committed to public education!

Students at Parramatta East have to line up to use the toilet. I know what would happen if my year 1 son had to line up to use the toilet—it would not be pretty, I can tell you that. This school is across the road from a high-rise disaster that the Government has allowed to blow out the budget by a record $225 million, but it cannot find the money to upgrade an existing school. These local parents are saying it is devastating and infuriating that their children are being left behind. The Government tells us there are no funds for major upgrades. It clearly has never heard the Treasurer talk about the "new golden century". Those opposite are always in this place crowing about how they are rolling in money, but they do not have their priorities right.

They are obsessed with talking about the previous Labor Government. They seem to conveniently forget that they have been in government now for two terms—that is eight years, if they have forgotten. They talk about our record in public education. Well, let us look at theirs. Let us look at Passfield Park, let us look at what is happening in Randwick, let us look at Parramatta East, let us look at the blowouts at the failed experiment of the Parramatta high-rise and let us give some certainty to parents who deserve their school upgrades.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (17:14:34):

Today I speak in the first public interest debate, following the changes to the standing and sessional orders of this Chamber. What an honour it is to speak about Education Week. I acknowledge the member for North Shore, who moved the motion. Education Week is an annual event that is held during the first week of August to celebrate public education in New South Wales. The theme for 2019 is "Every student, every voice". It is a celebration of the wonderful work of students and teachers and how the education system gives students the skills they need in order to have and express a voice during their own educational journey as engaged global citizens.

In my electorate kids from Mortdale Public School will have the opportunity to learn more about our Indigenous culture and later in the week they will be having a wonderful book fair. At Narwee Public School kids will be participating in dance performances and plays, and at Oatley Public School kids will have the opportunity to have an open day with parents and guardians to showcase their wonderful work. It is a massive week at Oatley West Public School, with open days, morning teas with parents and guardians, performances—dance, hip-hop dance and song groups, kinder dance—robotics, chess group and the interactive garden group.

The Government is focused on providing the children of New South Wales with the best possible start in life. That is why the Government has invested over $6.7 billion in education, including the rollout of 190 new and upgraded schools across the State. This includes two schools in my electorate: Penshurst Public and Penshurst West Public schools. I am pleased to update the House that construction has now commenced at Penshurst Public School. The new school will include 47 brand new classrooms and a new library, hall and covered outdoor learning area, in addition to open play spaces—playing courts, seating, shade structures and running tracks. The new Penshurst Public School is expected to be completed by mid-2020.

At Penshurst West Public School early works and designs have now been completed, with the major works contract going out to tender shortly. The upgrades to Penshurst West Public School will include modern teaching spaces and facilities, seven new learning spaces and classrooms, a new student amenities building and a special programs room along with enhanced open spaces. It is expected to be redeveloped by the end of next year. The New South Wales Government's record investment in new and upgraded schools is in addition to the $1.3 billion to wipe the existing school maintenance backlog—left by those opposite—to zero and the $500 million Cooler Classrooms Program to provide air-conditioning.

Mr Clayton Barr:

You just make up a new number every day.

Mr MARK COURE:

You guys might learn something if you listened.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The member for Oatley will address his comments through the Chair. The member for Cessnock will come to order.

Mr MARK COURE:

The Cooler Classrooms Program will provide air-conditioning to more classrooms than ever before. The Government is aiming to reduce the cost of before and after school care by up to $225 per child per year via a capped rental subsidy of up to $15,000 for providers that run services in New South Wales government schools. The $120 million strategy over four years includes $50 million to help schools buy new equipment and expand their facilities. Investing in education invests in our children's future. The Government's investment stretches across all stages of education from early childhood education to primary and secondary schools and through to our TAFE network.

Unfortunately, Labor's track record in my electorate saw the closure of Narwee High School by the previous Labor Government. On a personal note, my son, James, started his first year of schooling at Mortdale Public School, where my wife, Adla, is the P&C vice president. My wife is also the English coordinator at her school where she teaches. Education is therefore a huge passion of mine and I am proud that the Government is continuing to invest in the education system across every facet of this State.

Ms TAMARA SMITH (Ballina) (17:19:43):

After five years of reordering of business in this House, this is the first time that The Greens have spoken in such a debate. I am very pleased to do so, as a member of the crossbench. It is such a shame that in Education Week the motion of the member for North Shore focuses on the Government, rather than on the teachers and students of New South Wales public schools. Before I address the very serious issue of the lack of funding and the complete stripping away of TAFE in New South Wales, I want to recognise in Education Week our teachers and students, who should be congratulated.

Our teachers, who are underpaid, should be in our minds because day in, day out across the State they are the ones who are doing the hard work, often in inferior conditions. I can say that because I was a teacher in public schools for 21 years, including in remote and regional areas. As to the motion before the House, The Greens acknowledge and agree that all students should have access to a high-quality education. We do not agree that there has been record spending by the Government. There is a little thing called the consumer price index, which I will come to. We do know that the previous Labor Government closed more than 90 schools. The member for Balmain, the member for Newtown and I have all experienced that in our electorates. That lack of foresight is being repeated by the Liberal-Nationals Government as we speak.

While the Government is building new schools, there are small schools, particularly in my area, that are suffering under the Department of Education's current policies. The recent Federal election result will mean that for the next three years public schools will not be funded in New South Wales to the minimum Schooling Resource Standard [SRS]. The privatisation of vocational education and training will continue and the opportunity for guaranteed preschool funding for three‑ and four‑year‑olds is lost for now. Schools in New South Wales are nowhere near the minimum SRS. The funding gap is significant and funding inequalities between public and private schools are unacceptable.

Under the Local Schools, Local Decisions policy 1,200 positions, which supported the work of school teachers, were cut from the NSW Department of Education. More than 5,000 teachers have been axed from TAFE and about 150 qualified teacher positions in New South Wales jails have also been cut. With those statistics, I cannot believe that the member for North Shore would want to skite about the Liberal-Nationals Government's record. Inadequate resources means that students are unable to meet expected learning outcomes and ultimately their life chances are compromised. Denying teachers the resourcing and staffing levels essential for the job results in overloaded, stressed teachers running on adrenalin every day of the week.

As to recurrent and capital funding, in this year's budget there were no plans for any significant growth in public vocational education. Despite pledging $79.6 million over four years to deliver a new TAFE super campus for western Sydney and $61.7 million for eight new regional Connected Learning Centres, the 3 per cent increase in overall expenditure reveals an underlying, sad motive—this is not a budget that plans for any significant growth in TAFE services in New South Wales. When we look at allocations for "other operating expenses" they are virtually static at $424 million. That means when allowing for even minimal price inflation the Government is expecting the TAFE system to do more with less. For 100 years teachers have been doing more with less in New South Wales public schools.

This budget came at a time when the number of year 12 graduates studying or training in the year after they left school had fallen to its lowest point this decade. That is why the Stop TAFE Cuts campaign in particular will focus on highlighting how contestable funding for government vocational education dollars has led to cuts in course delivery hours for our students. That is the record we see before us. Education Week is about teachers and students. If the Government wants to put forward a motion congratulating itself it had better be factual and not moralistic.

Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (17:24:47):

I thought I had heard it all but the audacity and hypocrisy of this Government knows no bounds. Just when you think you have seen and read it all along comes this motion. Clearly the Government lives in a parallel universe to me and my constituents. In fact, my difficulty with this motion is to know where to begin in attacking the Government. But let me make a start with Passfield Park School. Passfield Park is a special school within my electorate, located in Minto. The school was never designed for special needs students and is woefully inadequate. For years teachers and students have suffered in facilities that do not come up to scratch. There are severe mould problems, putting the health of students, staff, visitors and parents at risk. Students in wheelchairs have to struggle up ramps that are too steep or through doors that are too narrow.

There are no breakout areas or safe play areas for students whose behaviour escalates or becomes unmanageable. What is this Government's response? Not a single dollar in this year's budget, not one single cent. What is worse, when I raised this last week in question time the Premier clearly did not have a clue about the issue. It was pretty evident she did not even know where Passfield Park School was located. In fact, the Premier could only speak about special needs schools in Liberal-held electorates that have received funding from this Government. The Government says that every student no matter where they live should have access to a high‑quality education—just not the most needy ones at Passfield Park Special School. Paragraph (2) of the motion is not only false but it is also insulting to the kids and the school community at Passfield Park. That is strike one.

I turn to Hurlstone Agricultural High School, a selective school in my electorate. Just over a decade ago a conga line of then Opposition members went out to Hurlstone to protect and save its farm from developers. "Hands off Hurlstone", they cried. Such was their conviction they even moved a bill in this place to protect Hurlstone forever. Not a single blade of grass would be sold, they said. As was appropriate, the then Labor Government listened to the community and Hurlstone, its farm and its heritage were saved. Fast forward to now and the very same then Opposition members, now Government members, could not move quickly enough to sell off the farm to developers and to move Hurlstone to the Hawkesbury. To boot, they then sealed their hypocrisy by voting against the private member's bill that I moved in this House, which had almost the same sentiment as their bill 10 years before.

Let us be clear, this motion wants to congratulate the Government on delivering new schools when in my electorate the Government is closing an esteemed agricultural high school. The students in my electorate will be left with a school that will be a shell of its former self, located on a postage stamp-sized block of land, only to be surrounded with overdevelopment in due course. The Government shows twenty-four carat gold hypocrisy and double standards that do not get any better or any clearer. It seems that nothing will get in the way of this Liberal Government selling land to developers, not even valuable education land for the kids of south-west Sydney. Strike two.

Summer in my electorate is very hot. Almost every government building in New South Wales, to my knowledge, is air-conditioned but for some reason many of our public schools are not. The matter of non‑air‑conditioned classrooms is something I and many of my colleagues have raised with the Government. Every time we are told the same about guidelines—spin, spin and more spin. When pressed on this issue the Government is forced to do something, but it is nowhere near enough. In the meantime, schools in my electorate that suffer intolerably in summer will inevitably miss out—just as my community in Macquarie Fields always misses out on a lift at the railway station, every single time. Strike three.

I have not even mentioned the critical shortage of special needs places in local classrooms or the lack of planning that has left Edmondson Park without a public school or a high school despite a burgeoning population and out-of-control overdevelopment. Then there is the completely unacceptable pedestrian safety issues at Bardia Public School. Strikes four, five and six. Where do I stop? Fair is fair. The motion reads, "every student, no matter where they live, should have access to a high‑quality education". Tell that to the kids of my electorate.

Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD (Myall Lakes) (17:30:02):

I make a contribution to this public interest debate. Education Week showcases our great schools, teachers and students. I highlight some of the achievements of just a few of the schools in the Myall Lakes electorate. It is a great shame to see so many members on the other side of the House playing politics on this issue, rather than showcasing their schools. For the past four years Forster Public School has hosted an amazing showcase of talent through the medium of film. The Film by Pebbly festival has been embraced by the Great Lakes community, with films submitted over the years by Pacific Palms Public School, Tuncurry Public School, Bungwahl Public School, Hallidays Point Public School, Wingham Brush Public School, Forster Public School and Great Lakes College. Students are learning an amazing array of future‑focused skills that will see them thrive in the digital world. Students are acting, animating, filming, editing and creating original storylines for a range of exciting films.

Fill your HatRevenge of the Handball

This year two homegrown films from Forster Public School and Bungwahl Public School made it to a best of the best festival, Festival by Invitation, and were screened on 22 June in Sydney. Bungwahl Public School's is a beautiful tribute to the power of a small community wanting to help farmers facing drought. Part of the film's beauty is in its final plaintive appeal to audiences to fill the hats being passed around after each performance. The film has been screened at many other student film festivals around New South Wales and has raised more than $6,000 for drought relief. Bungwahl Public School's 32 students made their mark. Forster Public School's is an animated movie created by a group from year 5. The students used a green screen, clay figures and live action to tell the tale of a handball that grew tired of being thrown around and decided to take revenge. Teachers, parents and students travelled to Sydney for the festival and were presented with certificates by the patron of the Film By Pebbly festivals, Bryan Brown.

Taree High school is extremely proud of the way the Gathang language is being embraced by all students in the school. Since the Aboriginal Languages Bill went through this House in 2017 the Taree community have seen a revitalisation of the Gathang language, with the assistance of language teacher Jaycent Davis and Uncle Russell Saunders. The program is helping young Biripi men and women find their voice, embrace their identity and connect with country. Six Taree High School students were part of the Hunter Region Open Girls hockey team who won gold at the NSW Combined High Schools Sports championship in June 2019, gaining a 1‑0 win in the final. Two of the girls were also successful in being selected for the NSW Combined High Schools Sports open team.

At Old Bar Public School, where construction of the $9 million classroom facility is well underway, public speaking is very important. Two year 6 students took part in the local finals of the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition. Both girls spoke eloquently and passionately. The girls had to give an impromptu speech with only five minutes preparation time on the topic of space. One of the students was announced the winner on the day and will now represent our Taree area at the regional finals in August 2019. Seven students from Old Bar Public School have had their artworks chosen to be included in Operation Art 2019. The students' artwork will be professionally framed and exhibited at the Armory Gallery, Sydney Olympic Park. Operation Art is an initiative of The Children's Hospital at Westmead in association with the New South Wales Department of Education.

In rugby league, an Old Bar Public School year 6 student was chosen to play for the Hunter Schools Sports Association open primary rugby league team, which was crowned the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association State champions. At Wingham Public School students in the Stage 3 Marimba Group performed at the Manning Entertainment Centre. The band members, who were competing against three other schools, were excited and nervous before their performance. Wingham Public School was excited when the winners were announced because the judges loved their performance and awarded the Wingham Public School Marimba Band first place. It might not be important to those on the other side but it is important to the students at my schools.

Dr MARJORIE O'NEILL (Coogee) (17:35:20):

I gladly take this opportunity to speak during Education Week about the state of education in New South Wales and particularly in the electorate of Coogee. As my colleague the member for Londonderry pointed out, if this Government really believes this issue is important this motion should have been debated much earlier in the day. I acknowledge the motion of the member for North Shore, which states that every student, no matter where they live, should have access to a high-quality education. I am glad she acknowledges this right to high-quality education and I am sure that she would be extremely disappointed by the way in which her Government has ignored the pleas made by Randwick Girls and Randwick Boys high schools.

These schools are in limbo. Both are underfunded but the boys school is currently being considered for transition to coeducational. Neither school is receiving the upgrades they need due to the lack of clarity around this potential transition. During the 2019 State election campaign the Government admitted that there was both a capacity problem and an infrastructure problem in high schools across the Eastern Suburbs. To address this, the Government committed to major upgrades at both Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School, a well overdue and welcome announcement.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

I call the member for Oatley to order for the third time.

Dr MARJORIE O'NEILL:

It was therefore incredibly disappointing to see that in the 2019‑20 budget the Government has significantly downgraded its commitment and has budgeted for only minor upgrades. This downgrade is a complete backflip on the Government's election promise and its promise to bring much‑needed infrastructure upgrades to the only public high schools in my electorate. Having spoken at length with representatives of both P&Cs, local educators and students, it is clear that the community is crying out for these major infrastructure upgrades. On June 5 I asked the education Minister a simple question on notice: When will the proposed infrastructure upgrades to both Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School commence?

The Minister's response revealed that in June 2018 an upgrade to Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School was announced, noting that the scope of the projects could be informed as part of the consideration from the coeducational survey and a decision to make Randwick Boys High School coeducational. It is now 14 months on and we are no closer to an answer on what the upgrades will be and when they might be delivered—total radio silence. If you are confused don't worry, it's a mess. In addition to the backflip, there is potential to convert Randwick Boys to a coeducational school and the downgraded upgrades have been delayed because there is community consultation to convert Randwick Boys to a coeducational school! Community consultation ended in February. This decision is still pending despite the department telling the community that it was to be made in the first half of this year. It is also impossible to get any clarification on the decision.

A recent freedom of information request made by my office was refused by the education department. A letter explains that disclosure of the information would reveal the position of the Minister that would be taken on the matter. That was the point! The point is we want to know what is planned for our schools. We want to know what the Minister has planned. We want some idea about the future of education in the Eastern Suburbs. Information on this survey is being deliberately withheld from the public. We in the Opposition know that there is not only a capacity need in the Eastern Suburbs but there is also a desire for choice. That is why Labor committed to building a new coeducational comprehensive high school in the Eastern Suburbs. Of the eight public primary schools in the electorate of Coogee, all bar one in the electorate are at capacity. Where does the Government expect these kids to go? Does it expect all of these kids to go to private schools? That is just in Coogee. Let me talk about the State.

In the first term of the Liberal-Nationals Government, under O'Farrell and Baird, the Government cut $1.7 billion from the education budget. It cut the demountable replacement program and 212 schools across New South Wales had their budgets slashed from 2013, including eight special needs schools. It is no wonder that New South Wales is not performing when it comes to educational outcomes, in particular when it comes to science, mathematics and reading literacy. In New South Wales 45 per cent of students are not mathematically proficient. In New South Wales mathematical literacy is behind the Australian Capital Territory [ACT], Western Australia [WA] and Victoria. Our scientific literacy falls behind the ACT, WA, Victoria and the national average and our reading literacy is behind the ACT, WA, Victoria, and South Australia. I welcome the amendment to the motion moved by my colleague. It is critical that in Education Week we shine light on the Government and its failings to the people of this State.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

Order! The member for Wollongong will come to order. I inform the member for Port Stephens that this the eighth time she has been asked to come to order. It is only because I will be leaving the chair soon that the member will remain in the Chamber.

Mr Ryan Park:

I always give you a break.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The member for Kiera will come to order. That is the fourth time he has been asked to come to order.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (17:41:25):

In reply: It is very clear that the best form of defence is offence. Those opposite want to shout at us but their record for 16 years was an abject failure. Yet they attack this Government, which has made record levels of investment in education. Those opposite claim that the Government is the problem. They left us with a billion‑dollar black hole of infrastructure and maintenance—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The member for Gosford will come to order. The member for Canterbury will come to order.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

We are the ones who had to pay off their debt and fix their mistakes and problems. There is an interesting trend emerging from those opposite speaking against this motion—the members representing the electorates of Londonderry, Coogee, Ballina and Macquarie Fields. I would say it is plausible deniability because none of them was in government when Labor had its 16 years of failure. None of them will take responsibility for the state of New South Wales that was left by Labor.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

I call the member for Gosford to order for the third time.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

What we know is that there are lies from those opposite about the programs and projects of this Government. What happened when Labor was in government? They could not manage money and they decided to axe programs. What did they cut? They put our children and our students last and chose to cut, cut, cut funding for education.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

I call the member for Wollongong to order for the second time.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

When they finally lost government they had a billion-dollar black hole. They cut, cut, cut.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The member for Cessnock will come to order.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

When Labor was in government it put kids on the altar of its failures; it put them last. This Government has invested a record $6.7 billion in infrastructure projects for schools. The problem is that those opposite are not capable of understanding the facts when it comes to education investment. I like all the preaching that comes from those opposite but they should look at our record investment. They can screech and cry, and the lady can protest as much as she chooses but it does not change the facts.

This Government is wiping out the maintenance backlog and the black hole that they left us with. They did not care about our students. It is particularly sad that in Education Week they rant, rave and attack this Government—the only government in this State that has actually invested in our education system for 24 years. We heard from the member for Oatley of the school closures in his community by Labor. We have a Government that is committed to each student and quality education across the State. We are the only ones that the people of New South Wales trust to invest in our students.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The question is that the amendment of the member for Londonderry be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes45

Noes47

Majority2

Amendment negatived.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Lee Evans):

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes51

Noes41

Majority10

Motion agreed to.

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