Budget overruns or schools overrun? The fiscal dilemma

Schools are filling up. We can't just not build them. (Image: Getty)

Fri, 01 Mar 2024

Six point six billion dollars in the last five years. In the past three: $4.3 billion. Last year: $1.3b. Those are the dollar value of education building consents issued.So, when Erica Stanford, the education minister, announces a review of up to 350 school upgrade projects where plans “are not able to be delivered on” because of budget blow-outs, the potential figures involved are not small. Those consent figures are not just public schools. They will include tertiary institution spending and private-sector education investmen...

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