ID :
11163
Tue, 07/01/2008 - 10:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11163
The shortlink copeid
Rudd downplays stoush over computers
(AAP) - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has vowed to press on with the implementation of his computers in schools program, brushing aside a threat from the NSW government to derail the scheme.
Documents obtained by the Nine Network show NSW Treasurer Michael Costa has demanded
$245 million extra over four years to take part in the scheme - a key election
promise by federal Labor last year.
The NSW government says it will not pay the installation and maintenance costs for
the computers unless it gets the extra money from the commonwealth.
But Mr Rudd, who has vowed to implement the program, said the stance taken by the
NSW government was simply typical of negotiations ahead of any Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) meeting.
"This is just normal argy bargy, associated with negotiations of states and
territories and getting things done," Mr Rudd said in Mackay on Monday. COAG will meet in Sydney on Thursday.
"We will of course continue to negotiate with NSW and other states on the details of
the implementation of the program," Mr Rudd said.
"But the program itself will be implemented because it is a first-class program to
assist schools' practical needs for the future.
"The government is proud of this program. It is a very good program. We intend to
implement this program."
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said his government's push for $245 million to help pay for
the commonwealth's school computer program was no different to lobbying by other
state governments.
Mr Iemma denied his government had been secretly trying to squeeze money out of
Canberra, saying it was simply trying to come to agreement about set-up costs not
addressed in the federal government plan.
"What NSW has been doing, like every other state, it is pointing out to the
commonwealth that, one, we are very happy to cooperate with the commonwealth in
rolling out its computers in schools program," Mr Iemma said.
"(But) two, there are flow-on costs to the states and seeking resolutions of that
issue."
The federal opposition has accused the Rudd government of attempting to pay "hush
money" to hide errors in costing.
The Nine Network reported that advisers to Treasurer Wayne Swan had recommended
paying the money to NSW on the quiet, without revealing it to the other states.
"What Mr Rudd is now trying to do is to write cheques to incompetent state
governments because Mr Rudd himself has not fully costed his own policy and his own
commitment," Dr Nelson told reporters in Sydney.
"Mr Rudd needs to reassure Australians there isn't hush money being paid out to
state Labor governments in order to make sure it looks like Mr Rudd is delivering on
a promise."
Dr Nelson called on Mr Swan to reveal the cost of purchasing, installing and
maintaining the computers.
"I think one thing Mr Wayne Swan should do is to release the full costings of the
computers-in-schools budget, so Australian taxpayers and particularly Australian
parents can actually see what we're up for," he said.
The Victorian and West Australian governments have both said they will roll out the $1 billion program.
Documents obtained by the Nine Network show NSW Treasurer Michael Costa has demanded
$245 million extra over four years to take part in the scheme - a key election
promise by federal Labor last year.
The NSW government says it will not pay the installation and maintenance costs for
the computers unless it gets the extra money from the commonwealth.
But Mr Rudd, who has vowed to implement the program, said the stance taken by the
NSW government was simply typical of negotiations ahead of any Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) meeting.
"This is just normal argy bargy, associated with negotiations of states and
territories and getting things done," Mr Rudd said in Mackay on Monday. COAG will meet in Sydney on Thursday.
"We will of course continue to negotiate with NSW and other states on the details of
the implementation of the program," Mr Rudd said.
"But the program itself will be implemented because it is a first-class program to
assist schools' practical needs for the future.
"The government is proud of this program. It is a very good program. We intend to
implement this program."
NSW Premier Morris Iemma said his government's push for $245 million to help pay for
the commonwealth's school computer program was no different to lobbying by other
state governments.
Mr Iemma denied his government had been secretly trying to squeeze money out of
Canberra, saying it was simply trying to come to agreement about set-up costs not
addressed in the federal government plan.
"What NSW has been doing, like every other state, it is pointing out to the
commonwealth that, one, we are very happy to cooperate with the commonwealth in
rolling out its computers in schools program," Mr Iemma said.
"(But) two, there are flow-on costs to the states and seeking resolutions of that
issue."
The federal opposition has accused the Rudd government of attempting to pay "hush
money" to hide errors in costing.
The Nine Network reported that advisers to Treasurer Wayne Swan had recommended
paying the money to NSW on the quiet, without revealing it to the other states.
"What Mr Rudd is now trying to do is to write cheques to incompetent state
governments because Mr Rudd himself has not fully costed his own policy and his own
commitment," Dr Nelson told reporters in Sydney.
"Mr Rudd needs to reassure Australians there isn't hush money being paid out to
state Labor governments in order to make sure it looks like Mr Rudd is delivering on
a promise."
Dr Nelson called on Mr Swan to reveal the cost of purchasing, installing and
maintaining the computers.
"I think one thing Mr Wayne Swan should do is to release the full costings of the
computers-in-schools budget, so Australian taxpayers and particularly Australian
parents can actually see what we're up for," he said.
The Victorian and West Australian governments have both said they will roll out the $1 billion program.
