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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Tuesday, 4 May 2004) . . Page.. 1739 ..

Mr Speaker, the revenue forgone for these initiatives is estimated at $10.5 million annually. These are socially and economically responsible measures that are funded from within budget, rather than through any new taxes, as was so firmly predicted by the Leader of the Opposition.

Education

Mr Speaker, this government has a strong commitment to education. Since coming to government, $27 million has been injected into education for projects within the school gate. This budget provides additional funding in excess of that commitment. In 2004-05 alone, additional funding of more than $5.2 million is to be provided.

A further $10 million has already been included in the 2003-04 supplementary appropriation bill for the first stage of the teachers’ wage negotiations, which are not yet finalised.

This government has already implemented significant initiatives, such as the reduction of class sizes for kindergarten to year 3, provided laptops for teachers, introduced youth workers in government high schools, and enhanced the curriculum renewal projects.

The 2004-05 budget allocates an additional $22.8 million across four years to government and non-government schools.

This delivers on the commitment made in the social plan to lead Australia in education, lifelong learning and training, and the economic white paper to ensure that schools are resourced to deliver ICT skills to students.

Of this, Mr Speaker, $11 million will be provided over four years to improve information technology and communication services to students and to schools. This will provide for 20 new technical staff to work across ACT schools, freeing up the capacity of teachers and administrative staff who currently maintain IT school networks.

In addition, government schools will have increased capacity, on a shared cost basis, to purchase and upgrade ICT resources, including hardware, software, and communications and related facilities.

Further, security and accessibility of the government school IT networks will be enhanced by upgrading websites and the introduction of a student digital pass key.

Funding is also provided for the connection of all non-government and government schools to broadband internet services.

The non-government school sector will also receive grants to the value of $2.5 million over four years to improve student information and communications technology.

The budget also provides $4.1 million over four years to inject into much needed school maintenance; $4.3 million over four years to enhance services for students with a disability; and $1.5 million over four years to improve health services in schools.

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