Bob Baldwin, Member for Paterson has today made a fresh push for a high school at Medowie, as $16.2 billion dollars is spent through the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program.

“Media reports this week have highlighted extreme waste as part of the Rudd Labor Government’s BER program, including at Booral Public School which received just 2 pre-fabricated classrooms for the same price that another school got 3 classrooms, a basketball court and rainwater tank,” said Mr Baldwin.

“This waste represents millions of taxpayer dollars, wasted for no other reason than the Rudd Labor Government’s recklessness, laziness and incompetence,” said Mr Baldwin.

“Repeatedly I am being told of school buildings that have cost three, four, five times the industry standard to build.

“Julia Gillard is trying to tell the community that the costs have been extraordinary because of zoning problems, but as a former builder I can say with confidence that this is nothing more than spin.

“The Rudd Labor Government simply didn’t take the time to get competitive quotes and is now paying more per square metre for some pre-fabricated classrooms than you would pay for a luxury designed home,” said Mr Baldwin.

Throughout the last couple of years Mr Baldwin has been fighting hard for Medowie residents who need a high school.

“Now we are seeing millions of dollars wasted, when just 20 would have paid for a high school at Medowie,” said Mr Baldwin.

“This high school has been, is and will continue to be desperately needed in the local area.

“Building this project would be a real revolution.

“I call on our State and Federal Labor Governments to commit to it,” said Mr Baldwin.