Latest news with #Langbroek
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Hard lesson as crumbling state schools face $441m fix
Angry teachers demanding better pay and conditions are being exposed to leaking roofs, crumbling walls and mould at schools because a lack of funding. A day after the biggest teachers' strike in Queensland history, a damning report has revealed a staggering $441 million repair bill to fix schools across the state. The independent assessor's report claimed a third of state school assets were in poor condition and warned of health risks if it didn't improve. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek blamed the previous Labor government for the backlog of "unfit for purpose" school facilities that will take years to fix. "We've heard about ceilings with exposed joists, termites in window frames, leaking roofs, gutters ... that are of real concern," he told a budget estimates hearing on Thursday. "Now the repair bill is more than $441 million. "It's higher because delays and dilly-dallying have left infrastructure worse than anticipated." The Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report, commissioned by the former Labor government in 2022, detailed the state of schools endured by unhappy teachers. Thousands of educators walked off the job across the state on Wednesday demanding better pay and conditions after wage deal talks broke down. Mr Langbroek on Thursday said the repair backlog was another issue teachers had to deal with after the independent report warned there was no quick fix. Money had been diverted to new facilities over the years and insufficient funding to address debilitating infrastructure had led to further decay at schools, the report said. Hundreds of schools needed repair, with some featuring damaged stairs, termite issues and mould. "The current asset condition summary is representative of an infrastructure asset base with extensive deterioration that needs significant investment in renewal now and for the coming years," the report said. If the repair backlog continued, health and safety issues may arise and the bill could blow out to more than $900 million by 2028/29, the report warned. After assessors visited 1266 state schools, 32.2 per cent of assets were rated poor, 37 per cent fair and 29.2 per cent good. An asset is rated "poor" if it is badly deteriorated and components fail frequently. Queensland schools built after December 2017 and new buildings constructed after October 2021 were not factored into the assessment. A four-year investment proposal to address repairs was outlined in the report. The Liberal National government would invest $589 million towards facility renewal, legislative obligations, safety and upgrade programs in the coming years, Mr Langbroek said. The Queensland government has referred the pay negotiations to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation. More than 50,000 union members abandoned their classrooms on Wednesday after voting to strike for the first time in 16 years. Angry teachers demanding better pay and conditions are being exposed to leaking roofs, crumbling walls and mould at schools because a lack of funding. A day after the biggest teachers' strike in Queensland history, a damning report has revealed a staggering $441 million repair bill to fix schools across the state. The independent assessor's report claimed a third of state school assets were in poor condition and warned of health risks if it didn't improve. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek blamed the previous Labor government for the backlog of "unfit for purpose" school facilities that will take years to fix. "We've heard about ceilings with exposed joists, termites in window frames, leaking roofs, gutters ... that are of real concern," he told a budget estimates hearing on Thursday. "Now the repair bill is more than $441 million. "It's higher because delays and dilly-dallying have left infrastructure worse than anticipated." The Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report, commissioned by the former Labor government in 2022, detailed the state of schools endured by unhappy teachers. Thousands of educators walked off the job across the state on Wednesday demanding better pay and conditions after wage deal talks broke down. Mr Langbroek on Thursday said the repair backlog was another issue teachers had to deal with after the independent report warned there was no quick fix. Money had been diverted to new facilities over the years and insufficient funding to address debilitating infrastructure had led to further decay at schools, the report said. Hundreds of schools needed repair, with some featuring damaged stairs, termite issues and mould. "The current asset condition summary is representative of an infrastructure asset base with extensive deterioration that needs significant investment in renewal now and for the coming years," the report said. If the repair backlog continued, health and safety issues may arise and the bill could blow out to more than $900 million by 2028/29, the report warned. After assessors visited 1266 state schools, 32.2 per cent of assets were rated poor, 37 per cent fair and 29.2 per cent good. An asset is rated "poor" if it is badly deteriorated and components fail frequently. Queensland schools built after December 2017 and new buildings constructed after October 2021 were not factored into the assessment. A four-year investment proposal to address repairs was outlined in the report. The Liberal National government would invest $589 million towards facility renewal, legislative obligations, safety and upgrade programs in the coming years, Mr Langbroek said. The Queensland government has referred the pay negotiations to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation. More than 50,000 union members abandoned their classrooms on Wednesday after voting to strike for the first time in 16 years. Angry teachers demanding better pay and conditions are being exposed to leaking roofs, crumbling walls and mould at schools because a lack of funding. A day after the biggest teachers' strike in Queensland history, a damning report has revealed a staggering $441 million repair bill to fix schools across the state. The independent assessor's report claimed a third of state school assets were in poor condition and warned of health risks if it didn't improve. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek blamed the previous Labor government for the backlog of "unfit for purpose" school facilities that will take years to fix. "We've heard about ceilings with exposed joists, termites in window frames, leaking roofs, gutters ... that are of real concern," he told a budget estimates hearing on Thursday. "Now the repair bill is more than $441 million. "It's higher because delays and dilly-dallying have left infrastructure worse than anticipated." The Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report, commissioned by the former Labor government in 2022, detailed the state of schools endured by unhappy teachers. Thousands of educators walked off the job across the state on Wednesday demanding better pay and conditions after wage deal talks broke down. Mr Langbroek on Thursday said the repair backlog was another issue teachers had to deal with after the independent report warned there was no quick fix. Money had been diverted to new facilities over the years and insufficient funding to address debilitating infrastructure had led to further decay at schools, the report said. Hundreds of schools needed repair, with some featuring damaged stairs, termite issues and mould. "The current asset condition summary is representative of an infrastructure asset base with extensive deterioration that needs significant investment in renewal now and for the coming years," the report said. If the repair backlog continued, health and safety issues may arise and the bill could blow out to more than $900 million by 2028/29, the report warned. After assessors visited 1266 state schools, 32.2 per cent of assets were rated poor, 37 per cent fair and 29.2 per cent good. An asset is rated "poor" if it is badly deteriorated and components fail frequently. Queensland schools built after December 2017 and new buildings constructed after October 2021 were not factored into the assessment. A four-year investment proposal to address repairs was outlined in the report. The Liberal National government would invest $589 million towards facility renewal, legislative obligations, safety and upgrade programs in the coming years, Mr Langbroek said. The Queensland government has referred the pay negotiations to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation. More than 50,000 union members abandoned their classrooms on Wednesday after voting to strike for the first time in 16 years. Angry teachers demanding better pay and conditions are being exposed to leaking roofs, crumbling walls and mould at schools because a lack of funding. A day after the biggest teachers' strike in Queensland history, a damning report has revealed a staggering $441 million repair bill to fix schools across the state. The independent assessor's report claimed a third of state school assets were in poor condition and warned of health risks if it didn't improve. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek blamed the previous Labor government for the backlog of "unfit for purpose" school facilities that will take years to fix. "We've heard about ceilings with exposed joists, termites in window frames, leaking roofs, gutters ... that are of real concern," he told a budget estimates hearing on Thursday. "Now the repair bill is more than $441 million. "It's higher because delays and dilly-dallying have left infrastructure worse than anticipated." The Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report, commissioned by the former Labor government in 2022, detailed the state of schools endured by unhappy teachers. Thousands of educators walked off the job across the state on Wednesday demanding better pay and conditions after wage deal talks broke down. Mr Langbroek on Thursday said the repair backlog was another issue teachers had to deal with after the independent report warned there was no quick fix. Money had been diverted to new facilities over the years and insufficient funding to address debilitating infrastructure had led to further decay at schools, the report said. Hundreds of schools needed repair, with some featuring damaged stairs, termite issues and mould. "The current asset condition summary is representative of an infrastructure asset base with extensive deterioration that needs significant investment in renewal now and for the coming years," the report said. If the repair backlog continued, health and safety issues may arise and the bill could blow out to more than $900 million by 2028/29, the report warned. After assessors visited 1266 state schools, 32.2 per cent of assets were rated poor, 37 per cent fair and 29.2 per cent good. An asset is rated "poor" if it is badly deteriorated and components fail frequently. Queensland schools built after December 2017 and new buildings constructed after October 2021 were not factored into the assessment. A four-year investment proposal to address repairs was outlined in the report. The Liberal National government would invest $589 million towards facility renewal, legislative obligations, safety and upgrade programs in the coming years, Mr Langbroek said. The Queensland government has referred the pay negotiations to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation. More than 50,000 union members abandoned their classrooms on Wednesday after voting to strike for the first time in 16 years.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Hard lesson as crumbling state schools face $441m fix
Angry teachers demanding better pay and conditions are being exposed to leaking roofs, crumbling walls and mould at schools because a lack of funding. A day after the biggest teachers' strike in Queensland history, a damning report has revealed a staggering $441 million repair bill to fix schools across the state. The independent assessor's report claimed a third of state school assets were in poor condition and warned of health risks if it didn't improve. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek blamed the previous Labor government for the backlog of "unfit for purpose" school facilities that will take years to fix. "We've heard about ceilings with exposed joists, termites in window frames, leaking roofs, gutters ... that are of real concern," he told a budget estimates hearing on Thursday. "Now the repair bill is more than $441 million. "It's higher because delays and dilly-dallying have left infrastructure worse than anticipated." The Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report, commissioned by the former Labor government in 2022, detailed the state of schools endured by unhappy teachers. Thousands of educators walked off the job across the state on Wednesday demanding better pay and conditions after wage deal talks broke down. Mr Langbroek on Thursday said the repair backlog was another issue teachers had to deal with after the independent report warned there was no quick fix. Money had been diverted to new facilities over the years and insufficient funding to address debilitating infrastructure had led to further decay at schools, the report said. Hundreds of schools needed repair, with some featuring damaged stairs, termite issues and mould. "The current asset condition summary is representative of an infrastructure asset base with extensive deterioration that needs significant investment in renewal now and for the coming years," the report said. If the repair backlog continued, health and safety issues may arise and the bill could blow out to more than $900 million by 2028/29, the report warned. After assessors visited 1266 state schools, 32.2 per cent of assets were rated poor, 37 per cent fair and 29.2 per cent good. An asset is rated "poor" if it is badly deteriorated and components fail frequently. Queensland schools built after December 2017 and new buildings constructed after October 2021 were not factored into the assessment. A four-year investment proposal to address repairs was outlined in the report. The Liberal National government would invest $589 million towards facility renewal, legislative obligations, safety and upgrade programs in the coming years, Mr Langbroek said. The education minister is seeking to continue negotiations with the teachers union, which has not ruled out further industrial action. The Queensland government has referred the pay negotiations to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation. More than 50,000 union members abandoned their classrooms on Wednesday after voting to strike for the first time in 16 years.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Twelve judges resign from literary awards after fellowship sinking
An independent review into the roles of the library and minister began last month, and will report back to the board by September 30. What they said Responding to questions from Labor's Leeanne Enoch, State Librarian Vicki McDonald said of the 36 judges lined up for the Queensland Literary Awards, to be announced next month, 12 had resigned since Wyld's award was rescinded. 'We have not had the number of judges resign previously,' McDonald, who has been in the role for nine years, said. Langbroek, facing questions himself, stood by the decision to issue a legal direction to the library not to hand over the award on state-funded premises to someone 'appearing to justify terrorism'. 'Let me make it very clear … that I'm not questioning the skill, expertise and knowledge of [judging] panel members. What we're talking about here is the circumstances in which a fellowship was withdrawn under my direction,' he said. Asked if he would rule out intervening in any other awards, Langbroek said he would take similar action in future 'if it's deemed necessary' and said if people 'choose not to be judges again, we will find other judges'. Another perspective Wyld told Guardian Australia in May that her X post bore no relevance to her manuscript on the Stolen Generations that originally garnered her the fellowship. Loading 'I probably could have worded it less emotional,' Wyld said. 'It was mostly me being really devastated at the Albanese government's approach to the whole [Gaza] situation.' The Australian Society of Authors said in May it intended to write to Langbroek and Premier David Crisafulli to 'call for a strong stance on freedom of expression and independent arts funding processes'. What you need to know Enoch also used the hearing to question QPAC chief executive Rachel Healy about the $175 million New Performing Arts Venue – to be known as the Glasshouse Theatre after a recent public poll – and the original plan to name it after a prominent First Nations figure. Healy told the hearing that the QPAC board was invited by the then Arts Department director-general in August 2023 to 'provide advice on the name of the new theatre'. Healy confirmed the board made a recommendation to the department in March 2024 featuring 'a range of names' but that the name of activist and poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal 'stood out' in the view of the board's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory committee. The board was then advised in April that public consultation process would be undertaken for the name. While respondents could make their own suggestions, the only pre-selected options were Glasshouse, Lantern, Watershed and Russell. Healy said the decision to not include Noonuccal's name in this list was 'a matter for the department and for the minister'.
The Age
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Twelve judges resign from literary awards after fellowship sinking
An independent review into the roles of the library and minister began last month, and will report back to the board by September 30. What they said Responding to questions from Labor's Leeanne Enoch, State Librarian Vicki McDonald said of the 36 judges lined up for the Queensland Literary Awards, to be announced next month, 12 had resigned since Wyld's award was rescinded. 'We have not had the number of judges resign previously,' McDonald, who has been in the role for nine years, said. Langbroek, facing questions himself, stood by the decision to issue a legal direction to the library not to hand over the award on state-funded premises to someone 'appearing to justify terrorism'. 'Let me make it very clear … that I'm not questioning the skill, expertise and knowledge of [judging] panel members. What we're talking about here is the circumstances in which a fellowship was withdrawn under my direction,' he said. Asked if he would rule out intervening in any other awards, Langbroek said he would take similar action in future 'if it's deemed necessary' and said if people 'choose not to be judges again, we will find other judges'. Another perspective Wyld told Guardian Australia in May that her X post bore no relevance to her manuscript on the Stolen Generations that originally garnered her the fellowship. Loading 'I probably could have worded it less emotional,' Wyld said. 'It was mostly me being really devastated at the Albanese government's approach to the whole [Gaza] situation.' The Australian Society of Authors said in May it intended to write to Langbroek and Premier David Crisafulli to 'call for a strong stance on freedom of expression and independent arts funding processes'. What you need to know Enoch also used the hearing to question QPAC chief executive Rachel Healy about the $175 million New Performing Arts Venue – to be known as the Glasshouse Theatre after a recent public poll – and the original plan to name it after a prominent First Nations figure. Healy told the hearing that the QPAC board was invited by the then Arts Department director-general in August 2023 to 'provide advice on the name of the new theatre'. Healy confirmed the board made a recommendation to the department in March 2024 featuring 'a range of names' but that the name of activist and poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal 'stood out' in the view of the board's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory committee. The board was then advised in April that public consultation process would be undertaken for the name. While respondents could make their own suggestions, the only pre-selected options were Glasshouse, Lantern, Watershed and Russell. Healy said the decision to not include Noonuccal's name in this list was 'a matter for the department and for the minister'.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Modern-day bullying': Minister asks striking teachers to consider premier's feelings
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek has asked striking teachers to consider the impact of personal call-outs to politicians on the placards they carried at Wednesday's rally. Some 50,000 members of the Queensland Teachers' Union stopped work for the first time in 16 years this week, with thousands rallying on Parliament House in Brisbane, demanding better pay and conditions from the state government. In budget estimates on Thursday morning, Opposition education spokeswoman Di Farmer presented a stack of placards used during the strike that had been inspired by the classic children's book series No, David! by American author David Shannon. 'The first page says 'working nights, weekends, and holidays, that's not funny', and they say 'David', but obviously referring to the premier,' Farmer explained. Farmer asked Langbroek to hand the placards to Premier David Crisafulli. Langbroek agreed the signs should be tabled, but said he doubted it was an 'appropriate' way to deliver the concerns to his leader. 'People should be looking at the things that [the teachers] write ... in my view this can be seen as modern-day bullying,' Langbroek said. He added that politicians were 'all happy to cop cartoons' but some messages had crossed lines.
