Dear Bazz,

At least this government is actually doing something.
I gave education merely as one example. After years
of neglect and underfunding by the previous Liberal
government its great to see something actually being
done to rectify the situation. It's not some sort
of "fantasy," or "cornocopia," as you put it. The reality
is - something is being done for a change. Let me be more
specific: The government will be delivering -

New or rebuilt facilities at 9,500 schools Australia wide.

Over 5000 new school buildings

More than 4000 new classrooms. More that 2,500 school
libraries. Nearly 2,500 School Halls. More than 1,500 sports
grounds and facilities. 250 new science centres.

And this is why they've nearly doubled the national schools
budget to a record 65.6 billion in over 4 years.

The government is investing 2.4 billion in the Digital Education
Revolution - delivering computers to schools by the end of
2011. And 2.5 billion for the Trade Training Centres in Schools.

They're building and re-building Australian schools. They're
building and re-building Australia's educational opportunity.
But even more importantly - they're investing in this country's
future - OUR CHILDREN. And that should matter to us all.

Hi
I think Australia's problems are going to get worse because our growing population.And with all potential problems with coal seam gas.

That is all very worthwhile Lexi, but their project management skills
leave much to be desired, so you have to worry about the cost and are
they targeted properly.

Are the schools teaching for the future or the globalisation world ?
How many high schools are teaching botany, soil physics etc in other
than agricultural high schools ?

Those two subjects are just two off the top of my head, there must be
many more skills that will be needed to make our communities survivable over the next 50 years.
Our cities are going to change and quite different skill sets will be
required than we use now. The throw away society will end and he or
she who can fix appliances etc will be in big demand.

If we can keep the electricity generation going as it is now then
the economy will be quite manageable as we will still have public
transport and power for manufacturing
Unfortunately that is not guaranteed due to the depletion
of oil that will have occurred by 2030, and the effect of systemic
collapse in complex economies.

This where the politicians are failing us, they should be worrying
about this problem which has much greater effect than AGW and fossil
fuel use will be falling faster than any CO2 reduction scheme yet devised.

Dear Bazz,

That's why the government is investing in Trade
and Training Centres. The overall programme has
been carefully assessed and it's merely a start.
Nevertheless a good start. And You have to start
somewhere, as with everything. Better than neglecting
and underfunding or simply cutting back on things.

Lexi,
new schools yeah. In my electorate the Bligh mob's building a school with football oval & basket ball court on an island with about 100 kids. Money well spent. Why are they keeping this so quiet & out of sight of the media ? I'd have thought so close to the state election they'd be bragging about their "achievements".
Anyhow, Why all this education waffle all the time ? Education has served only those who can exploit those educated to a mindless state. Why is it that with so many educated we can't find people to enter trades ? Education for education's sake is pointless & costs us dearly in the long run as we're finding out now. I have yet to see a lawyer or some other academic to fix a flat tyre etc. You see, education does not translate into ability. It instead puts the inept onto pedestals from which they can't look down because the height makes them dizzy & renders them useless as well.

individual,

"Education" translates into another nicely oiled cog in the consumption and endless growth machine...