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Inga Peulich, State Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Parliamentary Secretary for Education has welcomed the Baillieu Government’s announcement of a full maintenance audit of all government schools in Melbourne’s south-east.

Ms Peulich said the maintenance audit will provide the Baillieu Government with comprehensive information on the neglect of local schools after 11 years of Labor neglect.

“This audit will examine every building in every government school,” Ms Peulich said.

“It sends a strong message to the south-east community that the Baillieu Government will work hard to ensure that we try to fix the mess left behind by the former Labor Government.”

“As Parliamentary Secretary for Education and local MP, I have had the opportunity of visiting schools in the local community, speaking to local Principals and witnessed buildings needing urgent repair after being neglected over 11 years of Labor administration,” Ms Peulich said.

“The mind boggles what could have been done and been fixed in local schools had the Federal Building the Education Revolution (BER) money not been wasted and mismanaged by State and Federal Labor.”

“The audit is part of the government’s $100 million school maintenance fund and will be used to help prioritise maintenance needs across the state’s schools,” Ms Peulich said.

“Some schools face considerable capital works and maintenance challenges and the audit is a much needed process to priorities works across the communities.”

Ms Peulich said the additional $100 million maintenance funding will increase annual maintenance spending from $59 million under Labor to $87.5 million a year over the next four years.

The Coalition Government’s maintenance funding boost reverses Labor’s cuts to maintenance funding which dropped from $73 million in 2000-01 to just $59 million in 2009-10, a 20 per cent cut over 10 years.

Martin Dixon, Minister for Education said this audit has two purposes, to better direct maintenance funding to urgent projects, and to give principals the information they need to better direct their annual maintenance funding.

Mr Dixon said the audit will provide an assessment of the condition of all classrooms, outbuildings and covered walkways.

“The Government understands that principals know their schools best and this audit will provide them with another tool to make decisions on maintenance work that addresses the needs of the school community,” Mr Dixon said.

Further Information: GARY ANDERTON 9772 1366