Kev the builder keeps the kids enthralled

KEVIN Rudd began his speech to students at St Luke's Primary School yesterday by telling them about their school's namesake.

Kevin Rudd

KEVIN Rudd began his speech to students at St Luke's Primary School yesterday by telling them about their school's namesake, but he very swiftly moved on to the Gospel according to St Kevin.

"Four or five years ago, there was a big problem in the world," the Prime Minister told students gathered in the Building the Education Revolution-built gymnasium in the northeast Melbourne suburb of Wantirna.

"And the big problem in the world was, lots of people were losing their jobs, and running out of money. So we decided here in Australia to make a difference. So what we did . . . we started building new buildings in schools."

Fresh from signing the Catholic sector up to his Better Schools plan on Tuesday, Mr Rudd was cheered by students and staff when he told them the scheme would give St Luke's an extra $1.2 million over five years. But it may take more than that to change the minds of the children's parents in the seat. A Labor seat until 1990, Aston has been Liberal since.

Though supporters of Labor candidate Rupert Evans were out in force to greet the PM as he arrived, some automotive and salary packaging industry representatives and retrenched workers turned up to try to draw Mr Rudd's attention to what they said was the "bungling" of his decision to tighten fringe benefits tax rules. Australian Salary Packaging Industry Association president Leigh Penberthy said he had been trying to arrange a meeting with the government since the decision was made last Tuesday. He and Mr Rudd exchanged brief words to the effect that the Prime Minister was "happy to talk", but Mr Penberthy said he was still waiting for a concrete commitment.

Earlier, Mr Rudd used a visit to Brentwood Park Primary School in the outer-eastern suburb of Berwick to increase pressure on Premier Denis Napthine to sign up to the Better Schools plan.