Goodwood Primary School, February 2007: Then Labor backbencher Graeme Sturges visits Goodwood to inspect improvements courtesy of Federal funds. Now Goodwood faces the axe. And the state may get a millions-dollar bill from the Feds.
ABC Online
Wed 22 June 2011
It has been revealed the Government may get a multi-million-dollar bill from the Commonwealth if it closes up to 20 schools.
All of the 20 schools on the list for possible closure received federal grants under the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program, worth more than $13 million in total.
BER guidelines state that the Commonwealth has the right to recoup funding for projects over $75,000, if the schools are closed.
The Federal Minister responsible for the BER, Chris Evans, would not rule out seeking some of the money.
“Well obviously they are Tasmanian Government schools, but this has been an investment from the Federal Government to try and improve education in Tasmania,” the minister said.
“We have an interest in making sure that investment is protected and, as I said to the state education minister (Nick McKim), I’m keen to work with him to make sure that investment is maximised.”
State Opposition Leader Will Hodgman says it could amount to an expensive bungle.
“Nick McKim said it’s all about saving money but he might have to pay it all back to the Federal Government.”
“It is a dog’s breakfast,” Mr Hodgman said.
Mr McKim says he has legal advice that the state is not obliged to make any repayments to the Federal Government.
Closure of all 20 schools would save up to $24 million.
*Picture from Graeme Sturges’ website HERE where it says: Goodwood Primary School
On Thursday 22 February (2007), Graeme visited Goodwood Primary School and toured the redevelopment works that are underway there.
Graeme met with the Principal of Goodwood Primary, Mr Shaun Pearce.
Mr Pearce and the Prep class showed Graeme around the works:
*Earlier on Tasmanian Times: Battle stations for Goodwood (includes link to the Sturges website)
• Pay bonus for PS* elite
DAVID KILLICK | June 23, 2011 12.01am
SOME of the state’s best paid public servants will escape the cap on pay rises being imposed on the rest of the public sector.
Pay packages for some of the state’s top earners are budgeted to rise up to 27 per cent by 2014-15, outstripping inflation and the 8 per cent other public servants get.
The base salary of Chief Justice Ewan Crawford is determined by the Auditor-General each year based on a survey of the holders of similar offices interstate — a nexus which is to become just a memory for teachers, nurses and police officers.
Long-standing legislation means other judges, the Governor and some other senior government lawyers automatically receive pay rises linked to the top judge’s base pay which this year was $395,000, although a Government spokesman could not reveal what next year’s rate will be.
Tasmanian Governor Peter Underwood automatically receives 90 per cent of what the Chief Justice gets.
The budgeted cost to the Government of his salary, including superannuation, payroll and fringe-benefits tax and allowances, will rise by 10 per cent next year, to $493,000 — despite the fact the rise projected in last year’s Budget was was just 3.5 per cent, some $29,000 a year less.
The Governor is expected to get a 4 per cent rise in 2012-13 and 4.5 per cent in 2013-14.
The salary package paid to Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis SC is also linked to the Chief Justice’s pay.
Mr Ellis’s salary package cost will rise 4 per cent to $469,000 next year, followed by rises of 4.2 per cent and 3.6 per cent to take him to $507,000 in 2013-14.
Solicitor-General Leigh Sealy SC will pocket a 3.59 per cent rise to $462,000, and will catch up to the DPP by 2014-15.
*Ed: The only actual member of the State Public Service is The Auditor General. The Governor, Chief Justice, Judges, and Solicitor–General operate under Acts specifically exempting them from the State Service.
