Prime Minister Julia Gillard has jumped on the release of an independent report into the Government’s $14.1 billion school building program, saying it vindicates the key plank of the Government’s stimulus programs.
The report, compiled by businessman Brad Orgill, says costs blew out on the project by about 12%, although this was due to the size, speed and complexity of the program.
Complaints were received from 254 schools, but this represented just 2.7% of the program.
“Notwithstanding the validity of issues raised in the complaints, our overall observation is that this Australia wide program is delivering much needed infrastructure to school communities while achieving the primary goal of economic activity across the nation,” the report states.
While Opposition leader Tony Abbott has tried to use the report to attack Gillard’s economic credentials by saying “no waste can be justified,” a clearly pleased Gillard says the report shows the schools building program worked.
Gillard says the Government will adopt all 14 of the reports recommendation prior to the election, but says Labor does not regret its actions.
“I stand for jobs, I stand for making the judgements necessary to keep the economy strong and keep Australians in work.”
But while Gillard and Abbott continue their sparring over the economy, much of the focus of the campaign remains on two former Prime Ministers in John Howard and Kevin Rudd.
Rudd announced yesterday he will begin campaigning on behalf of Gillard in Queensland and New South Wales in the coming weeks, while Howard attacked Gillard’s record and claimed she had a worse record than her predecessor.
Meanwhile, the Government has promised $20 million for a feasibility study into the construction of a high-speed rail link between Brisbane and Melbourne.
The Coalition and the Greens have also supported the plan, although some commentators – including entrepreneur Dick Smith – have questioned whether such a project would be economically viable given Australia’s population size.
James was the editor and publisher of SmartCompany and LeadingCompany for five years. He is now the Australian Financial Review‘s companies & markets editor, and a former BRW editor.
