LNP Shadow Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Ros Bates today questioned Labor’s ICT Minister Simon Finn over the purchase of the finance software package ‘Agresso’ that’s left school bookkeepers floundering and suppliers unpaid.

Queensland Education Minister Geoff Wilson has repeatedly said the widely publicised PricewaterhouseCoopers report into the program had found "value for money was being achieved" in that state.

However, PwC director Michael Easton yesterday denied the 80-page report, commissioned by Mr Wilson and completed in September last year, had ever claimed value for money had been achieved.

SCHOOL libraries built under Kevin Rudd's controversial stimulus program have no new books on their shelves and no staff to run them.

FIFTEEN Queensland schools facing closure next year have been spruced up with $4.5 million from the Federal Government's blighted stimulus program. Schools in regional areas with as few as three students still received as much as $300,000 for new libraries or resource centres plus campus refurbishments even though they were earmarked for possible closure. See the full story here.

“THE $16.2 billion schools stimulus scheme is set to become the biggest single waste of money in the nation's history, with about $5bn to be wasted in overcharging, needless bureaucratic costs, pointless over-design of buildings and fee gouging by managing contractors” according to the Weekend Australian.

This article features an audit of NSW schools.  Do you know of examples of rip-offs and waste in Queensland and other schools? Not just BER but any contracting, maintenance or other waste? Every cent counts in getting our books back under control.  If so help blow the whistle

 More stories of schools being ripped off. Imagine what your school could do with the rest of the money if better value was provided - rather than middle men and poor Government management squandering
$ millions.

If you know of more examples of how Government red tape and mismanagement is costing your local schools please let us know.

President of the Parents and Citizens Association at Brisbane's Holland Park State School quits in frustration, citing the potential wastage of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars across the $16 billion nationwide program...He will be joined by Greg Aplin, a civil engineer and parent at Hendra State School, who says some building costs under the program are double the industry norm.

Education Queensland acknowledged no tenders were called for $490 million worth of projects - despite an official from the Department of the Prime Minister telling Mr Mayne in a letter he had been advised all projects under the scheme were put out to tender. See the full story here.