Liberals break year 11/12 promise as true cost exposed

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has been forced to admit that his $7 million spend on extending schools to year 12 is costing around $125,000 per student.

Under repeated questioning from Labor Shadow Education Minister during budget estimates today, Mr Rockliff revealed just 56 additional students had enrolled in year 11 this year.

Shadow Education Minister Michelle O’Byrne said the real figure undermines the 38% increase the Liberals have been bragging about.

“Spending $7 million on just 56 students amounts to around $125,000 per student,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“For that kind of money we could have provided each student with a full time individual tutor.

“And we don’t know if these students would have otherwise been enrolled in college.”

Ms O’Byrne said yet another lofty Liberal promise had been exposed as a lie.

“The Liberals’ original promise was to increase year 11 and 12 enrolments by 2000 over 4 years. That was soon abandoned for a target of 2000 extra enrolments over 10 years.

“When the Minister was asked what the new target is he said it was only an “opportunity”.

“This is an embarrassing back-down but not surprising from a Government who tried to turn one line slogans into policies.

“Spending $7 million on such a modest outcome at a time when you’re cutting 266 teachers from Tasmanian schools needs to be called into question.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP Shadow Education Minister