NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for School Education Brad Hazzard today announced an additional $20 million to provide air-conditioned facilities in up to 1000 schools under a NSW Liberal/Nationals Government. 

“We need to fix NSW now. Morris Iemma believes we can wait another three years before he turns his attention to the problems in NSW that need fixing,” Mr Debnam said.

“At every election the list of problems that need to be fixed in NSW gets longer and more expensive,” he said.

“A NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will start fixing NSW from day one, and this includes investing in our schools to provide a better learning environment for our children. 

“It’s unacceptable that in the year 2007 hundreds of thousands of public school students sit through classes without air conditioning.

“Despite making promise after promise to air condition NSW public schools, students and teachers continue to swelter.

“Today I’ve come to Heckenberg Public School to make this announcement because it’s been denied air conditioning by Labor despite classroom temperatures rising to 46 degrees on some days.

“In addition to existing government commitments, the NSW Liberal/Nationals will provide $20 million from our Community Renewal Fund to provide up to 1000 schools with an initial grant to provide air conditioned facilities. This will provide an average grant of around $20,000 per school, subject to school size and need.

“And the funding for this commitment will begin to flow this year, not in three years time,” he said.

Mr Hazzard said just 35% of all public schools in NSW have some form of air conditioning.

“Many school communities have also turned to local fundraising to install air conditioning. Many are also forced to pay for their own electrical upgrades because Labor refuses,” he said.

“I’ve visited many schools and teachers have told me of students fainting, moving classes outside under trees and spraying students’ faces with water.

“The NSW Liberal/Nationals will also set up an asset register of all schools, including air conditioning requirements so we can provide a priority for air conditioning based on actual classroom average temperatures across the summer period,” he said.

Mr Debnam said after 12 years, Labor has failed to improve conditions for students and teachers. If you want to fix the air conditioning problem in NSW schools, then don’t vote Labor.

“The only way to fix the problems is to vote Liberal or National this Saturday,” Mr Debnam said.