NSW govt promises to wipe school maintenance backlog by 2020

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson vowed every outstanding maintenance job in the region’s 40 public schools would be finished by July 2020.

“Over the past four years I have pushed this government and worked tirelessly to get the maintenance backlog cleared with our schools to ensure they are kept in the best condition,” Mr Anderson said.

“We’re now wiping the slate clean and ensuring all outstanding maintenance jobs at our schools such as carpeting, roof maintenance and painting works will be carried out.”

Mr Anderson said in the past two years, more than $2.7 million had been dedicated to the backlog.

“Today’s announcement to wipe the list to zero is great news for students, their families and the staff as they return to their classrooms this week,” he said.

“The additional funding announced late last year was great news and a huge boost for the region.

“It will ensure that students and teachers can work in the best possible conditions.”

Labor’s candidate for Tamworth Stephen Mears pointed out NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian had already made a blunder regarding the project, by stating the government inherited a $1.3 billion backlog from Labor.

The claim stands in conflict with a press release in 2012 from then-education minister Adrian Piccoli, which said that “after 16 years Labor left NSW schools with a $156 million maintenance liability and $789 million in infrastructure backlogs”.

“Once again, they’re trying to blame Labor for a problem of their own creation,” Mr Mears said.

“They are too worried about building stadiums in Sydney to care about education.

“Even their school air conditioning policy is a cheap imitation of Labor’s policy. We announced it first and they simply followed.”