Report reveals $441 million backlog of repairs for Queensland state schools
The Department of Education's Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report, commissioned by the former Labor government in 2022, highlights a multi-million-dollar maintenance shortfall.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said it shows "significant underinvestment by Labor".
"Our maintenance backlog is now $441-million in our state school system," he said.
The report, handed to the government in February, lists a backlog figure double the annual maintenance allocation of $226-million for state schools.
It states there are consequences of not funding the backlog gap.
"[The] backlog will further increase, for example by the end of 2028-29 the renewal backlog will be over $900-million," the report said.
Mr Langbroek said the same issues were significant when he last served as education minister between 2012 and 2015.
"Labor have neglected this for 10 years, [they] chose to kick the can down the road," he said.
"The report shows [the backlog] cannot be fixed in one year.
The report lists the Metro North region as having the highest percentage of assets in poor or very poor condition, at 58 per cent, followed by Metro South at 53 per cent.
The Far North Queensland region recorded 40 per cent of assets at state schools to be in poor or very poor condition.
On a recent visit to Winton, the education minister said he had seen an unsafe staircase fenced off.
"It's to the detriment of teachers and students."
Mr Langbroek believes the current state of school infrastructure contributed to more than 50,000 teachers striking for 24-hours across the state this week.
13 per cent of students and around 9 per cent of teachers still attended state schools during Wednesday's industrial action.
The minister said the move was an example of teachers "airing their frustration" at issues, including the state of infrastructure, and he looked forward to continuing conciliation in the coming days.
"We made an offer that's above inflation ... and attempting to deal with many of the issues expressed by teachers," he said.
"We look forward to sitting with an independent umpire — the Industrial Relations Commission — to continue our offer ... to enhance the offer we have made."
The Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) said they were striking for not only better pay, but also reducing occupational violence and improving respect for the profession.
Mr Langbroek said the government intended to announce a workforce strategy in the coming weeks, aiming to address some of the QTU's concerns.
"We'll be turning our minds to that very soon," he said.
The opposition has been contacted for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
12 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Dropped the ball': Labor failing to address Artificial Intelligence debate appropriately
Opposition Chief Whip Aaron Violi says the Albanese government has 'dropped the ball' on AI strategy. Mr Violi told Sky News Australia that there is 'no clarity' on the direction Labor wants to take Artificial Intelligence in. 'We're asking people to invest, but without that certainty that they need.'
SBS Australia
12 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Easy English 7 August 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . An appeal is being heard today against Supreme Court orders preventing the New South Wales parliament from expelling MP Gareth Ward. The injunction prevents State Parliament's lower house leader Ron Hoenig and Speaker Greg Piper from moving a motion to remove the disgraced MP. Mr Ward has lodged an appeal against his conviction for sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault, and he will be automatically expelled from the Parliament if that appeal fails. But in the meantime, both Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman say his presence in Parliament is 'unconscionable'. Police have found the body of a woman swept away by floodwaters in the New South Wales Hunter Valley. New South Wales Police say that while the body has not yet been identified, they are confident it is the 26 year old who had been caught up in a current after the car she was a passenger in attempted to drive over a flooded causeway in Rothbury on Saturday. The 27 year old driver managed to get to safety. Chinese state media has confirmed both women are Chinese nationals. The Tasmanian Labor Party says they will move another motion of no-confidence in the Liberals when state parliament resumes on August 19. The threat comes after the re-appointment of Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff by Governor Barbara Baker. Mr Rockliff has no formal agreements of support with the 11 elected minor party MPs and independents, but the governor has said the incumbent had the right to remain in office to test the numbers. The state's opposition leader Dean Winter says Tasmanians can be assured that the new motion won't lead to another new election. "Under the Liberals we've seen three early election in a row, and that's gotta change, which means we need to change the way parliament works, and we need to change the government. The crossbenchers have seen the way that the government led by Jeremy Rockliff has been operating now for the past 15 months, in particular, but even longer than that. It's been a lack of consultation, a lack of respect, and only a couple of weeks ago, the Premier was attacking those independents and crossbenchers through the election campaign." The Coalition has called for guardrails around Artificial Intelligence after the Treasurer announced he hoped to use the technology to Labor's advantage. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government hopes to use A-I as a weapon in Labor's second-term fight against weakening productivity. He says Australia will chart a sensible, middle path on its regulation. Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has told Nine's Today Show that caution must be taken because there are growing concerns about its impact on workers and the arts. "You know, I have concerns about artificial intelligence, and its impact on humanity and rather than adopting it holus bolus and rolling it out en mass across the country. We do need to understand the risk, particularly to our songwriters and our creative artists to make sure they're not bearing the cost. We need to protect our artists. And that means putting some regulation in place." On road testing has revealed that some of Australia's best selling electric vehicles are failing to meet their advertised standards. The Australian Automobile Association says it tested five cars using a 93 kilometre circuit of damp and dry conditions around Geelong in Victoria. The findings come one week after its Real World Testing program revealed 25 out of 30 petrol and hybrid vehicles tested had consumed more fuel than their lab results showed. At least 20 people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a truck loaded with humanitarian aid overturned into a crowd in the Gaza Strip. Local health officials also say at least 38 Palestinians have been shot by Israeli forces while seeking aid from United Nations convoys and sites run by an Israeli-backed American contractor. The Israeli military says it had fired warning shots when crowds approached its forces. The latest killings come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce further military action — and possibly plans for Israel to fully reoccupy Gaza. U-N Secretary-General spokesman, Farhan Haq, says the dual threat of attacks and starvation have been catastrophic. "More people are being killed and injured either along convoy routes or where they are staying. The situation is beyond catastrophic. Hospitals are overstretched. Patients are lying on the floor or in the streets, suffering, as beds, medical supplies and equipment are severely lacking. Starvation continues to happen, and today the Ministry of Health reported five new malnutrition-related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to about almost 200 deaths, half of whom are children."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Convictions not enough to expel sex offender MP: lawyer
Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
