01-July-2008
Goldstein Media Releases, Education and Training
The families of Goldstein students who receive their promised computer from Kevin Rudd will be out of pocket given the Labor Government’s miscalculated and under funded policy.
Federal Member for Goldstein, Andrew Robb MP, said the Rudd Labor Government has yet to work out who will pay for all the extra costs such as re-wiring, power, software, security, installation and teacher training on the reduced number of computers actually delivered.
“I am increasingly concerned that is going to be left to individual schools in Goldstein to pay these costs which will eventually be passed on to families through higher school fees,” Mr Robb said.
“Kevin Rudd no doubt will be happy to turn up to schools, deliver the computers in boxes, smile for yet another photo opportunity and then leave the school and families to pick up all the extra costs.”
Andrew Robb said that the WA Premier, Alan Carpenter had estimated that for every $1 the Federal Government spends on computers, an extra $3 will be needed for the extra costs.
“Kevin Rudd’s figures do not compute. This is highlighted by his proposed secret payment to the New South Wales Government to buy their silence on the extra costs families and schools face,” said Mr Robb.
The Rudd Labor Government has also declared that, at best, the neediest of schools will only be allocated a ratio of one computer for every two students.
“Kevin Rudd promised every Goldstein student in Years 9 to 12 would receive their very own, free computer before last year’s election. Now he has admitted he will not live up to his word,” Mr Robb said.
“Out of the 116,820 computers available in the first round of funding only 183 will find there way into Goldstein students hands. That is just 0.15 of 1% of the total computers going out to Australian schools.”
“Kevin Rudd and Labor have deceived parents and students who believed they would be receiving their very own computer.”
“Kevin Rudd has shown he cannot deliver on his promise to bring petrol prices or grocery prices down and now he cannot deliver on his promise to give every Year 9 to 12 student a free computer.”
Media contact: Andrew Hudgson (03) 9557 4644 or 0404 020 896