Students to face online test | Libs’ public housing pledge | $6.8M boost to ‘future proof’ Maria Island
The way the state’s high school students sit their exams would face a fundamental change under a $4.7m proposal from the Liberals.
Tasmania
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TASMANIAN high school students would soon be able to sit exams online if the Liberals are returned to government, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said as Labor questioned why it has taken so long to upgrade “neglected” schools.
“There is a growing call for senior secondary assessments and exams to be undertaken in the same way students study – using technology and online platforms,” Mr Rockliff said.
“We will invest $4.7 million to start building or licensing a secure, reliable, fit-for-purpose online assessment platform that connects to existing student management systems.”
Mr Rockliff said the the Liberals would spend $7.5bn on education over the forward estimates.
“All students, regardless of their circumstances, deserve to learn in state-of-the-art facilities, and we will commit $100 million to undertake an extensive program to revitalise learning spaces in our schools and colleges right around the state,” Mr Rockliff said.
“We will meet our new literacy targets and support the teaching of phonics in every government primary school by increasing the number of in-school quality literacy coaches to work in our classrooms by 50 per cent.”
The government said it would also invest $9.2 million in additional professional support staff and provide free access to speech pathologists, psychologists and social workers in every child and family learning centre.
The mental health program Stay ChaTY would also be extended in Tasmanian schools, $6.3m would be spent on anti-bullying measures in secondary schools by making student bathrooms safer, and the school lunches pilot would be expanded to 30 schools with an investment of $1.4m.
Earlier this week, Mr Rockliff announced $7.3m would be spent upgrading facilities at Montello Primary School in Burnie and $15.5m would be spent building a new North West Support School with a hydrotherapy pool in Devonport.
Labor’s Sarah Lovell said Montello Primary School had been screaming for help with basic facilities such as toilets that actually work for seven years and Jeremy Rockliff had done nothing.
“Fundamental facilities like capacity, plumbing, soundproofing and leaking roofs have been neglected,” she said.
“Clarence High, Deloraine High, Lauderdale Primary, Risdon Vale Primary and Taroona Primary have been languishing on the Department of Education infrastructure priority list for years and now the Liberals expect Tasmanians to believe that they will finally act.”
$280m pledge to public housing crisis
THE Liberals have pledged to spend an extra $280m building 2000 social and affordable houses within four years.
Labor says the government had a strong track record of making announcements — but a poor track record of delivery.
Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said the pledge would take the government’s total commitment to $580m and 3500 houses by 2027.
The government had already promised 1500 homes by 2023 and Mr Jaensch said the new building program would extend the boom and underwrite thousands of jobs.
“It gives a strong signal to our building industry, that there is a long pipeline of work out there, that the tooling up and the staffing up that they’re doing now, the training up of new builders and apprentices that they’re investing in now is going to be worthwhile.”
“There is a future pipeline of work out there for them to be doing and will provide baseload in that market over the next six years.
The government’s performance on housing has come under scrutiny as the average time to house priority public housing applicants had reached 53.9 weeks and 3,813 families languish on the waiting list.
At the same time soaring house prices and a stock shortage have put pressure on the private rental market.
Labor’s housing spokeswoman Alison Standen said the government was trying to match Labor — but had a record of overpromising and underdelivering.
‘This government has had seven years to tackle the housing crisis.
“They inherited a waiting list that was at a decade low and now it’s at a decade high.
“They’re trying to match Labor but they just can’t be believed.
“In the first term of the Liberal government they delivered just 37 public housing dwellings. Their track record is simply appalling.”
Ms Standen said the Liberals still lacked policies that matched Labor’s to improving home affordability and making home ownership easier.
Mr Jaensch also pledged $20m for two new supported accommodation facilities for older Tasmanians on the social housing register.
$6.8M boost to ‘future proof’ Tassie tourism gem
MARIA Island would receive $6.8m in funding for improved tourist facilities if the Liberals retain power at the May 1 state election.
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Premier Peter Gutwein, pictured, said the government would fund Stage 3 of the Maria Island Re-Discovered project.
The project would include the completion of new waste water treatment facilities, improved electricity infrastructure, additional heritage building upgrades and improved rain water capture, storage and delivery assets.
“Maria Island remains a very popular destination for Tasmanians and visitors and our investment will futureproof the Island as its reputation as a world-class tourist destination continues to grow,” he said.
Work would begin next year, Mr Gutwein said.
Calls to ‘vote for public education’ as TAFE, schools in firing line
THE teachers’ union has published a list of election candidates it says support public education — and not a single Liberal politician is on the list.
Teachers and their supporters held a small rally on parliament lawns on Tuesday to highlight the Labor, Green and independent candidates they say will back public education.
The union sent a survey to all 113 election candidates asking their views on public education policy issues.
Sixty of those surveyed who said they supported fully funding public schools, keeping TasTAFE in public hands, supporting students with additional needs and employing more teachers were given a “tick” recommendation.
Candidates who the union says back the privatisation of TasTAFE and the underfunding of schools were given a “cross”.
No Liberal candidate responded, AEU Tasmanian president David Genford said.
“Public education is central to Tasmania’s economic recovery and ensures we create a fairer future for our kids and that’s worth voting for,” he said.
“If you care about your local schools, about keeping TAFE working for Tasmanians and supporting students with disability and complex needs, there are 60 candidates you can vote for across Tasmania.
“We need strong advocates for public schools, colleges and TasTAFE in parliament.
“The choice in this state election is clear – these 60 candidates who support our schools, colleges and TAFE or those who underfunded schools and want to privatise TasTAFE.”
The union and Labor have mounted a vigorous campaign against the Liberal plans to reform TAFE Tasmania by turning it into a government business enterprise — saying it amounts to privatisation.
“The Liberal Party’s TasTAFE privatisation policy is an attack on public education and we cannot recommend a vote for candidates who want to make education about profit, not people.”
Premier Peter Gutwein on Tuesday denied plans to turn TAFE into a for-profit business.
The full list of candidates is at: vote4education.org.au
More election news
$600k loan pledge to help power local boat builder
A RE-ELECTED Liberal government would provide a $600,000 loan to help to a local boat builder to compete for a $70m contract.
Premier Peter Gutwein visited PFG Group in Goodwood on Monday where he announced the interest-free loan to build a $1m prototype vessel for consideration by the Royal Australian Navy.
“PFG are a world-leading manufacturer of next-generation high density polyethylene watercraft,’’ he said.
“Already Tasmania Police uses five of those vessels we have other vessels in service with Inland Fisheries.
“This is cutting edge, world-leading. This prototype will be competing hard for a 20-year, $70m build program for sea boats for the Royal Australian Navy.
“This will help secure the operations of PFG, locking in employment of around 40 PFG employees and obviously ensuring that this continuous flow-on benefits for local businesses through the construction of this prototype vessel.”
Mr Gutwein said the government would provide the $600,000 interest-free loan over three years for the company to build an ultra-durable High-Density Polyethylene prototype vessel for the defence sector for domestic and international markets.
The arrangement is similar, through smaller in scale to a $100m interest-free loan the government has provided local shipbuilder Incat.
PFG chief executive Rob Inches said the commitment would help the company compete in the national and international markets.
“The Sentinel 1100 … will enable us to demonstrate operationally that this next generation material offers unmatched performance, safety, durability and whole-of-life cost,” he said.
“HDPE is virtually indestructible, cannot corrode and is maintenance free, delivering a range of advantages to the navy and broader military and defence force, as well as public security and emergency service organisations.
“Tasmania has a history of innovative boat building stretching back almost 200 years and the skilled and dedicated workforce we have, are proud to continue this tradition.”
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