THE Auditor-General is probing the Gillard government's $2.4 billion school computers program.

This comes on the heels of multiple inquiries into Building the Education Revolution bungling.

The outcome - due to be reported to parliament in the spring session - has the potential to damage Julia Gillard in a knife-edge election campaign.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/school-computer-scheme-probed/story-fn59niix-1225893037107

Please tell me again of Julia Gillard's economic credentials?

As this report, and the one on the BER stuff up are due shortly, I guess that it is in Labor's interests to call an election before the # hits the fan as to JG's incompetence.

We rolled out laptops to Year 9s this year. Apparently the funds for older students have dried up.

Interestingly, I was just thinking earlier today about these 'revolutions' our government keeps promising (Building the Education Revolution, Digital Education Revolution, plain old Education Revolution). Sounds a bit too much like the Chinese Cultural Revolution for my liking. The word 'revolution' implies a rapid overhaul - a complete rethinking and reimagining of the systems and policies we have in place. Sadly, no such thing has occurred. Maybe we are having an Education Evolution - a slow and almost unnoticeable process.

Still, in the absence of any real policies from the opposition (apart from the apparently mandatory opposition policy of sniping at those in power), at least Gillard's government has given us an indication of the direction they will pretend to take. For the first time at a federal level, I have five weeks to make up my mind and no idea which way I will be voting or why.

The BUILDING and SCHOOLS program, to the best of my knowledge was administered and decided (who get's what and who does it) by the Dept of Education.

OOooooooh how I'd love to know what went on in the board/discussions about THAT !

Specially when the costs are so out of proportion with the cost of similar work done in the every day building game.

I SMELL CORRRRRUPtion.

You can bet your lillywhite a$$ that laptops will be handed out again this month for all to see in schools in good condition selected as polling stations as a last minute hope to catch the swinging voters.

Heartens me Shadow Minister to know this government will let the investigation take place.
Unlike the infamous AWB scandal that saw John Howard rule some things could not be investigated.
Or the lies deliberate ones, that saw the children overboard fairy story get air.
Good onya Julia let them look into our mistakes, Howard and those who followed him never will let light in to thier wrongs.

children overboard fairy story.
Belly,
you mean the one from a Labor orientated Aust Navy Boat crew ?

Don't worry folks, after Labor wins the election and Mr Abbott is replaced as leader, you'll have a few more years at your disposal to whinge on this forum and tell us how Mr Hockey will make the best Prime Minister this country has ever known. I can hardly wait.

The ONLY reason Mr Abbott will actually still be leading the Liberals at the August election is that they are 100% guaranteed to lose the election. NO liberal politician will now step up for the leadership **PRIOR** to this election, as it will now be the kiss of death for his/her career. If the election was to held next year then there's no doubt in my mind that Mr Abbott would not be leading them into that election. He's a hopelessly inept leader, weighed down by his "past".

Individual,
"Labor orientated Aust Navy Boat crew?"
That's got to be one of the most desperate grasping-at-political-straws I've heard in a long time.

On what evidence could you possibly make a statement like that?

So it's a lie based on the testimony of a boat crew and nothing to do with those mean and tricky politicians who decided after they were corrected on the facts of the incident "well, we better not see the video then".

Wobbles while you found desperation in Indy's post I found joy!
That you see is the best they can do.
Are doing every day.
Desperate untruths.
Silly fairy storys'
Side show alley tricks.
It is from Liberal plans 1 2 and 3.
Saying let us not tell them what we plan, just complain.
Complain and some will believe us.
Headlines say only the foolish will switch because of this policy.
The wise will see in this Liberals prove they are not ready to govern.
This tactic was born in private school yard bulling by upper class twits.

All the year 9's got their computers at our school last year and are due to get them this year. Always understood that they were only ever going to go to year 9 kids meaning it will take 4 years to complete the role out. As for the BER our school will shortly have its brand new bricks and mortar library completed to replace the old transportable one we have had ever since and the bottom oval properly drained, didn't notice any unwanted buildings there.

I wonder if anyone will apologise for their constant attacks on the BER when the report comes back showing the normal percentage of problem jobs based more around the State base education administrations and exploding costs due to the market forces but little to do with the government other than their short sightedness, or will this be another communist conspiracy to over run the country with reds.

As for the Liberals it is not hard to claim they didn't have these sort of stuff up's, they never did anything of consequence in education to stuff up except cut backs to public schooling and funding private schools. This has lead to all those very popular islamic schools popping up around the country.

Nairbe,

I am glad for your school, however, this is the not the story for many schools.

For the number of laptops issued, of which most have dated by at least a year, the average cost to the tax payer is in the order of $20 000 per laptop. I guess that they must be very special.

I would guess that your new building is gold plated too?

My son got one, and its probably in a corner or under a bed somewhere gathering dust. The problem with them is they arent very good quality, and they are severely limited in what internet sites they can access. Fair enough if porn is limited with some kind of filter, excepting if you want to get around the filters you would need a child to help you...
By knocking music on the head also, he prefers to use his mums computer. By knocking many government websites on the head, its not much good for schoolwork either. Particularly teenage boys will have no interest in a computer that does nothing except maths tutorials and stuff.

It would have saved a huge administration cost and been far more effective to simply give each kid $500 to buy a netbook or similar. Whats the individual cost of one of the "free" computers sitting round gathering dust?

PattheBogan “Whats the individual cost of one of the "free" computers sitting round gathering dust?”

Exactly Pat

Wasted opportunity
Wasted resources

So some socialist politician can grab a sound bite and make him or her self taller by standing on the empty wallets of the electorate.

Lets see how much was spent and how much value was delivered.

Speaking personally I buy several PC a year and we donate the old ones to where we see fit.

Doubtless, my discards will have a lot more viable life in them than these socialist “free-but-forked” models, paid for with our taxes

And remember it was the Liberals who brought us economic stability, government surpluses and the future fund

And Labor, under Yesterday Rudd, Today Gizzards and tomorrow ?, who has brought us nothing but waste, incompetence and future debt

Yes this was wasteful particularly considering the shortage of early intervention resources and the many other 'revolutionary' ideas that could have encompassed improvements in education.

I think it was another kneejerk election campaign promise that went terribly wrong.

Now we have to put up with a new slogan in the electioneering bandwagon 'Moving Forward' - Noooooooooo please Noooooooooo. Working Families was bad enough. An old boss of mine used to parrot Moving Forward all the time including 'minduflness of processes and procedures" while all the time watching Rome burn while we did not have the resources to do our job properly. When politicians start using public-service speak we are doomed. :)

I doubt it was corruption Al just incompetence. There is a difference.

Wobbles,
As this thread is of a different subject I shall only post this once on the subject. I reside in an area where Navy & Customs are very prevalent & in conversations with them the majority vehemently defend Labor in any discussion. Also, have you ever seen the content of the message handed to the Prime Minister ?
If you want to continue defending the ineptitudes & incompetence of Labor supporting public servants then start another threat. Bring it on !

Another good thread gee it is truly great twenty grand per computer?
ROFL!
But I thank the bleater's true, first full day and the polls say ALP holds a lead this tripe will not change that.

Individual,

Having private support for a political party doesn't necessarily mean that you carry out your work in a partisan political manner.
And why only Public Servants?

Would a Liberal supporting Doctor refuse to treat a Labor voting patient?

By "Labor supporting Public Servants" I assume you are discounting Godwin Gretch?

Wobbles you make a good point my last Doc hated the ALP and unions let me know too but we got on ok.
In this country we are unlikely to fight at the polling booths.
I truly believe some conservatives are verbally combative.
See the rather silly, stupid in fact view I do not think for myself.
Note my gut busting just can not wait kid waiting for Santa stuff, for the great night this NSW mob of mine is destroyed.
I find it funny true belly laughing funny that such false hoods are trafficked to rebut the fact voters are about to re elect Labor.
If half as much work over the last two and a half years had gone into making policy bricks,, than mud to throw I would not have my great election result .