Fletcher Calls on Gillard to Apologise Over Gordon East Public School

“In March of this year I raised in Parliament with the-then Education Minister, Julia Gillard, serious complaints that had been brought to my attention concerning the costs of the Building the Education Revolution ‘BER’ project at Gordon East Public School.”

 “I raised the fact that the BER buildings at the school were costing around $4,870 per square metre” said Paul Fletcher, Member for Bradfield. 

 “The now-Prime Minister rubbished my concerns and said I should be ‘ashamed’ of raising them.”

"What we now find is that the works at Gordon East are among the 2.7% of BER projects which have been subject to complaints to the BER Implementation Taskforce ‘the Orgill Review’ which has recently produced its Interim Report.

 “The Interim Report has stated:

 ‘…the majority of complaints raise very valid concerns particularly about value for money and the approach to school level involvement in decision making.’

 “The Interim Report specifically lists Gordon East, on page 51, as amongst primary schools in respect of which further action is to be taken, stating ‘costs review to be undertaken’.”

 “It also notes that ‘re-scoping’ has been announced by the NSW DET for Gordon East.”

 “More broadly, the Interim Report has found that projects managed by the NSW Government have been paying the highest average cost per square metre of any projects in the country.”

 “It is now-Prime Minister, Julia Gillard who should be ashamed.  Entirely legitimate concerns have been raised over the BER project at Gordon East Public School.  These concerns have been validated by the Orgill Review which is undertaking a more detailed examination of the project and its costs at the School.”

 “The level of BER waste makes Julia Gillard unfit to be a Minister let alone Prime Minister.  If she can’t manage a $16 billion program properly, how can she be expected to manage a $1.1 trillion economy?”

 “Will Julia Gillard now apologise for her cavalier disregard for the legitimate concerns of the people of Bradfield?”

Media contact: Darren Bark, Paul Fletcher’s Office 02 9465 3950