Colin Barnett - another promise and no plan to pay for it: Minister

24/11/04
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter has today labelled Liberal Party Leader Colin Barnett as a man with a promise for every person and no plan to pay for it.
Mr Carpenter was referring to the Coalition's announcement today regarding school charges in public schools.
"The Gallop Government was the Government in Western Australia which reduced the cost of school fees by $100 per student with our 'A Hundred Good Reasons' initiative," the Minister said.
"When we announced this in 2002, the Opposition said $7million a year could not be pulled from the education budget without programs or expenditure being cut to fund it.
"Colin Barnett must now explain how he is going to pay for today's $15million announcement."
Mr Carpenter said when Colin Barnett was in Government he increased primary school charges by more than 650 per cent - from $9 to $60.
"Colin Barnett also made increased school charges for Years eight to 12, made the charges compulsory and then insulted hundreds of thousands of WA parents who wouldn't or couldn't pay school fees by calling them bludgers," he said.
"Mr Barnett was the Education Minister who blew the education budget by more than $300million over four years.
"And he was part of the previous Liberal Government which returned five deficits in eight years, running down the State.
"This is a man who will do or say anything to get elected and he is quite simply not to be trusted."
Minister's office: 9213 6800