Gerry Brownlee National Education Spokesperson

26 July 2001

Mallard turns poacher

Education Minister Trevor Mallard has been caught out once again poaching policies off National then claiming the credit for their success, National's Education Spokesperson Gerry Brownlee said today.

Mr Mallard today announced the Government's property works programme for schools. In his press release he comments on the success of the school property self-management programme in giving schools long-term certainty and flexibility for property resourcing.

"It's ironic that Mr Mallard now thinks it's such a good idea. In Opposition, he criticised National's trial of this very scheme as 'privatisation by stealth' of school property.

"One of his first acts as Minister was to cancel the National Government's property trial involving forty schools. Six months later he re-launched the same policy as his own!

"The success of this scheme proves what schools can do when they are given a bit of freedom. It's a shame Mr Mallard is so intent on taking that freedom away in virtually every other area of school management.

"Mr Mallard's U-turn on property bulk funding is welcome but he shouldn't try and steal credit for the success of one of National's programmes for the second day running," Mr Brownlee said.

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