Schools hopeful of any compensation for added costs from the carbon tax can forget it according to the Tertiary Education Minister.
Schools in NSW alone reportedly face a $200 million a year rise in power bills under the Labor-Greens planned carbon tax. (Source: Daily Telegraph, 18 July 2011)
The Coalition’s Regional Education spokesperson, Senator Nash, today asked the Minister, Senator Chris Evans, to explain how schools, already struggling with rising power costs due to increased reliance on digital technology, will meet the additional carbon tax costs without the need to raise school fees.
She also asked what guarantees can the minister give that schools, particularly those in regional Australia, are not left behind should the State and Territory governments not meet the increased costs with additional funding.
“Rather than answering the question, the Minister blustered on about the government’s spending under the Building Education Revolution,” Senator Nash said.
“Investing in school infrastructure is welcome but unfortunately the BER program’s been embroiled in controversy over rorts and waste, and is entirely unrelated to the cost burden a carbon tax will have on schools.
“Senator Evans also insists the indexation of schools funding will cover additional costs from a carbon tax. The reality is that there are many operational costs that could potentially rise under a carbon tax, all the while schools are operating on tight budgets.”
Senator Nash raised concerns of school communities in remote Australia about a blowout in costs because aviation fuel will be hit by the carbon tax.
“These concerns were raised with me during my recent visit to schools in the Northern Territory. These schools rely on air transport of goods and there are very real concerns that transport costs will increase because of the carbon tax on aviation,” she said.
“Minister Evans dismissed these concerns and told us to “get serious”. The schools couldn’t be more serious Senator Evans.”
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