Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s recall of Parliament to secure a July 2 election has delivered unintended and potentially damaging consequences for the Liberals, with the Senate agreeing to hold a snap inquiry into political donations which will target the dealings of Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos.

Senator Sinodinos will be compelled to give evidence to the inquiry that will investigate the Liberal party’s fundraising body Free Enterprise Foundation (FEF), after Labor secured the support of the Greens and crossbenchers to pass its motion on Tuesday evening.

The successful motions put forward by Labor senate leader Penny Wong also call for the finance and public administration references committee to examine whether the Australian Electoral Commission has sufficient powers to deal with misconduct.

The move comes after a report from the NSW electoral commission that slammed the NSW Liberal party for “concealing” the identities of illegal major donors before the 2001 election and using the FEF to “channel and disguise donations by major political donors some of whom were prohibited donors”.

The NSW Electoral Commission is refusing to pay the Liberals more than $4.4 million until it reveals the secret donors who poured about $700,000 into the party’s coffers ahead of the 2011 state election.

Senator Sinodinos was the finance director and treasurer of the NSW Liberals at the time.

The inquiry, which has the potential to significantly damage the Turnbull government, would not have transpired had the prime minister not recalled parliament for extra sittings in a bid to reinstate the building industry regulator, the ABCC, of trigger a double dissolution election.

Senator Wong said Senator  Sinodinos had serious questions to answer regarding political donations and his involvement with the Free Enterprise Foundation.

She said the federal government had fought tooth and nail to avoid a vote on whether he should be directed to appear before a Senate committee.

“Malcolm Turnbull and [Attorney-General] George Brandis have repeatedly refused to respond to questions on Senator Sinodinos’ involvement in the Free Enterprise Foundation,” Senator Wong said.

“If Senator Sinodinos has nothing to hide why have senior ministers used every procedural trick in the book to resist scrutiny of the Senate.”

Senator Brandis vehemently objected to the motion, saying there had been no negative findings against Senator Sinodinos.

“The prime minister most certainly was satisfied in every respect that [Senator Sinodinos] satisfied the requirements of the ministerial code of conduct and that he is a person of integrity, as we all know him to be,” Senator Brandis said.

source:smh.com.au

Η Ελένη Ζάχου με τον Scott Dart (Ambulance Victoria Acting Operational Equipment Support Manager) και τον Michael Holmes (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance Paramedic – MICA) με μέρος του ιατρικού υλικού που προσφέρθηκε δωρεάν για να σταλεί στην Ελλάδα

Ελένη Ζάχου: Η Ελληνοαυστραλή νοσοκόμα που προσφέρει εθελοντικά τις υπηρεσίες της στους κατατρεγμένους όπου γης

Στα χνάρια της «Μητέρας Τερέζας» βρίσκεται η συμπάροικος νοσοκόμα, Ελένη Ζάχου. Όπου πονεμένος και κατατρεγμένος, η Ελένη στο πλευρό του ως εθελόντρια.Βρέθηκε στον πολύνεκρο και καταστροφικό σεισμό του Νεπάλ, αλλά και στον φονικό τυφώνα των Φιλιππίνων, για να παράσχει εθελοντικά υπηρεσίες στα θύματα. Και, φυσικά, δεν θα μπορούσε να μείνει ασυγκίνητη από το προσφυγικό δράμα που ζει η Ελλάδα. Η Ελληνοαυστραλή νοσοκόμα πέρασε τους τελευταίους τρεις μήνες στην Ελλάδα ως εθελόντρια στη Λέσβο και την Ειδομένη, για να παράσχει βοήθεια στους πρόσφυγες. «Βρέθηκα στο Νεπάλ, μετά τους πολύνεκρους σεισμούς και στις

Φιλιππίνες μετά τον καταστροφικό τυφώνα, αλλά τέτοια κατάσταση δεν έχω δει, όπως αυτή που είδα στην Ελλάδα» μάς είπε η κ. Ζάχου, που έκανε λόγο για «κόλαση του Δάντη».

Στη Λέσβο έζησε από πρώτο χέρι και ένα πολύνεκρο ναυάγιο με πρόσφυγες όπου χάθηκαν και ανήλικα παιδιά. Η ίδια συμμετείχε στη διάσωση μέσα στα παγωμένα νερά και, αργότερα, στην περίθαλψη.

Διαπιστώνοντας την έλλειψη ιατρικού υλικού έκτακτης ανάγκης -και κάνοντας χρήση των γνωριμιών της-, έγραψε στην Ambulance Victoria για βοήθεια και βρήκε ανταπόκριση.

Της πρόσφεραν δωρεάν μεγάλες ποσότητες πολύτιμου ιατρικού υλικού για να το στείλει στη Λέσβο.

Το επόμενο βήμα ήταν τα έξοδα μεταφοράς. Τη μεταφορά ανέλαβε η ομογενειακή εταιρία Hermes Shipping, προσφέροντας στην Ελένη μεγάλη έκπτωση.

Τα υπόλοιπα τα έβαλε η ίδια από την… τσέπη της, ελπίζοντας ότι θα της τα επιστρέψει η μη κυβερνητική οργάνωση ‘Vi Gor Vad Vi Kan’ (we do what we can’) που σημαίνει «Κάνουμε ό,τι μπορούμε».

Το υλικό ήδη φορτώθηκε για την Ελλάδα και η Ελένη που βρέθηκε αυτές τις μέρες στη Μελβούρνη είναι ιδιαίτερα χαρούμενη που «ίσως συμβάλει στο να σωθούν ανθρώπινες ζωές».

Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι η οικογένεια της Ελένης Ζάχου κατάγεται από την Κατερίνη, αλλά η ίδια γεννήθηκε στο Ντάργουιν και μεγάλωσε στο νησί Groote, μιάμιση ώρα με το αεροπλάνο από το Ντάργουιν.

Στο νησί αυτό, όπου η πλειοψηφία των κατοίκων είναι Αβοριγίνες, ο πατέρας της εργαζόταν σε ορυχείο.

Αν και ζούσε σε ένα απομονωμένο μέρος, η Ελένη έμαθε καλά τα ελληνικά και έχει στην καρδιά της (εκτός απ’ τους ανθρώπους) και την Ελλάδα!

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Μπορεί να ήταν λίγοι αλλά τράβηξαν όλη την προσοχή και οι φωτογραφίες και τα βίντεο σε μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης και το διαδίκτυο κάνουν θραύση.

Μόλις πέντε εύζωνες παρέστησαν το Σάββατο στις επετειακές εκδηλώσεις για την Μάχη της Κρήτης (ο έκτος ήταν αδιάθετος λόγω του μεγάλου ταξιδιού που είχε προηγηθεί) αλλά και οι πέντε ήταν… υπέροχοι, με τον υπολοχαγό τους.

Λόγω (και) της παρουσίας του ολιγομελούς αγήματος της Προεδρικής Φρουράς της Ελλάδας οι εκδηλώσεις φέτος είχαν ιδιαίτερη λάμψη. Και περισσότερος κόσμος, και περισσότερα μέσα ενημέρωσης, και μεγαλύτερη απήχηση.

Οι εκδηλώσεις του Σαββάτου ξεκίνησαν από το Anzac Memorial στο Hyde Park του Σίδνεϊ. Εκεί ξεναγήθηκαν οι εύζωνες, αλλά και ο αντιστράτηγος Κωνσταντίνος Γκατζογιάννης, επιτελάρχης Γενικού Επιτελείου Εθνικής Αμύνης (Γ.Ε.ΕΘ.Α.) και ο αντισυνταγματάρχης Κωνσταντίνος Βασιλόπουλος, που εκπροσώπησαν φέτος τις ελληνικές ένοπλες δυνάμεις.

Ακολούθησε σεμνή τελετή όπου η ελληνική Πολιτεία παρασημοφόρησε δύο Αυστραλούς παλαιούς πολεμιστές που συμμετείχαν στις επιχειρήσεις στην Ελλάδα κατά τον Β’ Παγκόσμιο πόλεμο. Τιμήθηκαν ο 97χρονος Thomas Lea, και ο αποθανών Charles Norman Badan (παρέλαβε το παράσημο ο εγγονός του, Jacob Ralph, σμηναγός της Πολεμικής Αεροπορίας).

Επίσης, παραδόθηκε στον Ελληνοαυστραλό πλοίαρχο Ιωάννη Σταυρίδη, σημαία που παλαιότερα κοσμούσε το θωρηκτό «Γεώργιος Αβέρωφ», γνωστό για τον άκρως σημαντικό ρόλο του στους Βαλκανικούς Πολέμους και την απελευθέρωση νησιών, όπως η Σάμος και η Λήμνος απ’ όπου κατάγεται ο ομογενής αξιωματικός του Αυστραλιανού Πολεμικού Ναυτικού.

Περίπου στις δύο το μεσημέρι, πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Κενοτάφιο Martin Place, η κύρια εκδήλωση της ημέρας με επιμνημόσυνη δέηση και κατάθεση στεφάνων. Παρέστη ο κυβερνήτης της Ν.Ν. Ουαλίας, David Hurley, τονίζοντας ότι «συναντήθηκαν κατά τον Β’ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο δύο δημοκρατίες – μία νέα με την αρχαιότερη». Επίσης, τόνισε πως όπως «και στην Καλλίπολη, έτσι και στην Κρήτη, δεν υπήρξε νίκη με τη στρατιωτική σημασία, όμως υπήρξε νίκη εν τη ευρεία έννοια. Αποτελεί τρανταχτό παράδειγμα του τι μπορεί να επιτύχουν οι άνθρωποι από κοινού».

Ο αντιστράτηγος Κωνσταντίνος Γκατζογιάννης, ευχαρίστησε τους διοργανωτές και τις αυστραλιανές Αρχές, εξέφρασε τις πολύ καλές του εντυπώσεις από την Ομογένεια και χαιρέτισε θερμά τον λαό της Αυστραλίας.

Άλλοι επίσημοι στο Martin Place, ήταν ο γενικός πρόξενος της Ελλάδος στο Σίδνεϊ, Δρ. Σταύρος Κυρίμης, ο ομοσπονδιακός υπουργός Αθανάσιος Συνοδινός, ο Εργατικός βουλευτής, Matthew Thistlewaite, η σκιώδης πολιτειακή υπουργός, Σοφία Κώτση, και άλλοι από την πολιτική σκηνή, την τοπική αυτοδιοίκηση, την Ομογένεια και ευρύτερα.

Όσον αφορά τους ευζώνους στη διάρκεια αυτής της εβδομάδας θα φρουρήσουν τιμητικά επί μία ώρα το Κενοτάφιο και αρκετά κανάλια έχουν δείξει ενδιαφέρον να τους κινηματογραφήσουν.

Το άγημα της Προεδρικής Φρουράς μαζί με τους δύο αξιωματικούς επισκέφθηκαν χθες τον στρατώνα «Λαμία», έξω από το Σίδνεϊ καθώς και το ίδρυμα «Βασιλειάδα» στην περιοχή Lakemba.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias and Interior Minister Panos Kouroublis have announced the launch of an initiative, titled Proxenos, that will allow Greeks living abroad to apply for official certificates and documents from the country’s consular services online.

Proxenos, which stands for the Greek word for consul, has started operating in pilot mode at the Greek Consulate in Dusseldorf, offering Greeks worldwide the opportunity to get hold of birth, marriage and death certificates, as well as other official documentation from their nearest consulate, accessing central public records databases. Dusseldorf’s feedback during the first week’s trial will help improve the service before it is expanded to other countries.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias also announced plans to digitise the ministry’s history archive and to update its translation service, cutting time spent searching for paperwork and additional expenses for the state as well as citizens.

“This is a jump in the quality of services offered by Greece’s consular services throughout the world, facilitating the lives of Greek expatriates,” Kotzias said during a joint press conference last Friday.
“Greeks will be able to receive certificates of birth and marital status online, thus cutting time spent searching for such paperwork in Greece and saving money for the state.”

Interior Minister Panos Kouroublis also said that the ministry will complete a program of 15 more database connections during the year.

“This connection with the database is the second achieved by the interior ministry, with the first one connecting with a database of the education ministry.
“This program will bring the diaspora closer to Greece, by showing the country cares and sends them a message of hope and optimism,” Kouroublis concluded.

source:Neos Kosmos

Australian Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou at training ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Jordan. PHOTO: AAP/MICK TSIKAS.

Postecoglou says ‘we’re prepared for what’s thrown at us’

The final qualifying phase of the Socceroos’ long and winding road to the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia is now set out before them. It kicks off at home on 1 September against Iraq and ends at home 12 months later against Thailand, taking in 10 matches along the way, including matches against UAE, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

The Socceroos will cover the length of Asia from the Middle East to the Far East to South East Asia in its quest to qualify for its fourth consecutive World Cup finals. Tuesday evening’s draw in Kuala Lumpur divided the 12 remaining countries into two groups of six. Each country will play all other countries in their group twice over the course of 12 months.

Coach Ange Postecoglou attended the draw and commented immediately afterwards.

“It’s good to know the draw so we have a clear picture of what is in front of us from a football and logistics perspective to qualify for the World Cup. Over the last two years we have built up a very strong portfolio of information on most Asian nations and its players by having scouts at matches and tournaments all over Asia, so the players go into every match well prepared. That information will be sharpened and expanded now we know that we face Japan, Iraq, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
“As champions of Asia we will show due respect to all countries but are focused on continuing our journey that has aspirations greater than simply qualifying for the World Cup.”

Postecoglou agreed that the draw had placed Australia in the tougher of the two groups, but added that his team is prepared for whatever is thrown at it.

Australia and Japan are favourites to qualify from Group B but they face strong challenges from both Saudi Arabia and UAE. The schedule is also likely to test Australia, with eight of the ten matches occurring in four pairs so that Australia plays the first of a pair of matches at home, and then has to fly to another country and time zone to play a second match away just five days later, or vice versa.

Coach Postecoglou has stressed the importance of stadium selection and playing surface preparation to optimise Australia’s chances of success in their home fixtures. The home venues have yet to be decided, but the coach said any state government who requested a home game needed to provide their biggest and best playing surface. He added it was no longer acceptable to come home to a torn-up playing surface even during winter months.

“If state governments want us it’s up to them to make a pitch for us and we aren’t fixed to one place or another. We want the best possible place and best possible venues. The Saudi Arabian crowd will be hostile and we’ll face a similar scenario in Japan. I reckon the Thais will pack out their stadium for us as well. Hopefully our guys will feel invincible at home,” Postecoglou told The Sydney Morning Herald.

SOCCEROOS WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS SCHEDULE:
Australia v Iraq (home) Thursday 1 September, 2016
UAE v Australia (away) Tuesday 6 September , 2016
Saudi Arabia v Australia (away) Thursday 6 October, 2016
Australia v Japan (home) Tuesday 11 October, 2016
Thailand v Australia (away) Tuesday 15 November, 2016
Iraq v Australia (away) Thursday 23 March, 2017
Australia v UAE (home) Tuesday 28 March, 2017
Australia v Saudi Arabia (home) Thursday 8 June, 2017
Japan v Australia (away) Thursday 31 August, 2017
Australia v Thailand (home) Tuesday 5 September, 2017

The other qualifying group, Group A, includes the following six countries: Iran, South Korea, China, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Syria.

The top two countries from each group qualify automatically for the World Cup finals, while the two teams finishing third in each group will then enter into play-offs for the chance to qualify.

Sources: Fox Sports; SMH

A tourist in front of the Parthenon metopes, British Museum, London. PHOTO: KONSTANTINOS TSAKALIDIS.

Geoffrey Ronald Robertson QC visits Adelaide to discuss the west’s longest cultural issue – the return of the Parthenon Sculptures

As part of the 100-day exhibition ‘The Sculptures of The Acropolis – A Retrospective’, the Sydney-born human rights barrister, academic, author and broadcaster, Geoffrey Ronald Robertson QC, will be arriving in Adelaide on 6 May to attend a formal dinner hosted by not-for-profit organisation The Foundation for Hellenic Studies.

The well-respected barrister is a founder and joint head of Doughty Street Chambers and, together with British-Lebanese lawyer, activist, and author Amal Alamouddin Clooney, visited Greece in October 2013 to meet with former Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his cabinet in an attempt to resolve the ongoing issue and reclaim the Parthenon Sculptures.

Sixty-nine-year-old Robertson, who holds dual Australian and British citizenship, will attend the event as an honorary guest, During the evening, he will have the opportunity to talk about his involvement and experience during his engagement, in the presence of dignitaries such as the Treasurer of South Australia Tom Koutsantonis, the Consul General of Greece in South Australia, Andreas Konstantinos Gouras, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia Chris Kourakis and a number of distinguished interstate guests.

The sculptures, which include 75 metres of friezes depicting mythological scenes and 17 statues, were removed from the ruins on the Acropolis by British ambassador Thomas Bruce, the seventh Earl of Elgin, in the early 19th century.

“There is considerable support for the emergence of an international rule requiring the return of cultural treasures of great national significance,” Robertson wrote in his 2012 book Crimes Against Humanity, attempting to explain his theory of an international right to the return of cultural property.
“Such a rule would not result in the emptying of western museums; it would only apply to ‘unique’ works such as the marbles – a living symbol of history and culture from the time of the birth of democracy. It would be based on international treaties and conventions that grant countries a ‘right to culture’,” he concluded.

The Foundation for Hellenic Studies launched the #ReturnTheMarbles campaign back in 2013 and has since accumulated thousands of supporters from all over the world. The overwhelming response across the globe spurred the approach to the Greek government, and The Foundation secured a first-time exhibition in Australia with the support of the South Australian government.

The life-size replicas, which include Poseidon’s bust, a two-metre-tall caryatid and examples of elements from the Parthenon’s frieze and metopes, were presented in an official opening on 31 March.

The exhibition will remain ‘in residence’ at the Adelaide Festival Centre for a period of 100 days, so that visitors can view the majestic forms of ancient Greece, that were used to symbolise democracy, equality and community.

source:neos kosmos

Tom Antonio deputy mayor on site.

The pair are looking to ensure the Arrium plant continues to push out quality steel.

Whyalla is facing more uncertainty regarding the struggling Arrium steelmaking plant, since new administrators KordaMentha were appointed on Tuesday after a successful federal court order, sought by banks and the AWU (Australian Workers’ Union).

“The creditors have the right to appoint the firm they wish to represent them,” says previously appointed administrator Paul Billingham, of Grant Thornton.
South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis just wants to get on with finding a solution for the 1,600 Arrium workers, in South Australia’s third most populous city.
“I don’t think there is any more uncertainty; just a further delay with the banks forcing a change of administrator,” Koutsantonis stated in Neos Kosmos.

Greek-born, acting Whyalla mayor Tom Antonio met with the KordaMentha on Wednesday morning.

Antonio’s wish is for the administrator to collaborate with state and federal governments to ensure the Arrium plant continues to push out the quality steel that Whyalla produces, while he insists that the federal government should encourage all state governments to use Australian steel for all taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects.

“The community was initially concerned about the change, but after my meeting with KordaMentha, I feel that they can follow on from the good work Grant Thornton has produced,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“We shouldn’t be buying steel from overseas,” Antonio points out, at a time when a lot has been said about importing and using foreign steel for major construction projects in South Australia, such as the new Royal Adelaide Hospital construction project.
Koutsantonis, on the other hand, is adamant.
“All our infrastructure is built using South Australian or Australian steel.
“They only time we import steel is if the steel required is not manufactured in Australia or unavailable,” he says.

Whyalla is known as the ‘Steel City’ due to its integrated steelworks and shipbuilding heritage, while the port of Whyalla has been exporting iron ore since 1903. Unfortunately, according to Tom Antonio, the city has already been affected tremendously by the Arrium crisis, experiencing up to 30 per cent drop in real estate value.

“Arrium is a lifeline for the community and has been the backbone of the South Australian economy for the last 100 years.
“Arrium and Whyalla are too big to be left to fail and the economic and social impact would be catastrophic if it’s allowed to happen,” warns Antonio. “Closure is not an option.”

Furthermore, Leader of the House and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne, scheduled a door-stop on Wednesday at his electorate office in Adelaide together with Assistant Minister for Science Karen Andrews, regarding steel anti-dumping.

And it doesn’t end there.

Adelaide Crows Football Club has also shown its support towards the Whyalla community by conducting school visits to eight schools across three days this week, preaching wellbeing and positive messages to more than 1,600 children, as part of the club’s schools program, ‘Growing with Gratitude’.

“It just made sense to get up there as quickly as possible, to get our community team into some cars and into the trenches in Whyalla,” said the club’s CEO, Andrew Fagan, in his statement to the local press.

source:neos kosmos

SYRIZA govt’s biggest privatisation step infuriates unions

Athens’ seaport is to be sold to Chinese conglomerate Cosco, after the board reached an agreement with the Greek government last Friday.

“This important amended agreement between the two sides comes at a crucial time for Greece at the end of a difficult season and the start of a new, more optimistic one, where emphasis will be given to restarting the economy,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said.

The €1.5 billion deal will include Cosco paying the sum of €368.5 million for the attainment of the seaport’s 67 per cent, which includes the main stake of the Piraeus Port Authority, plus investments with a projected worth of €350 million.

This major privatisation step was heavily criticised by the country’s main opposition party, New Democracy.

Spokesperson George Koumoutsakos accused the prime minister of “signing on to neoliberal policies”.

“We welcome his delayed return to reality,” he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of port workers, members of the Greek Federation of Port Employees (OMYLE) and a dockworkers union held a rally in central Athens.

“The government, despite its pre-electoral commitments, is proceeding to sell off the port. They threw away all the declarations regarding public ports and took advantage of fights between harbour workers in order to take power, and now throws parties to embrace the most neoliberal privatisation,” the union’s statement said.

source:neos kosmos

There have been increasing reports that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would resign if he can’t convince his countrymen of new financial demands. Lefteris Pitarakis

The US sharemarket has again confounded the pessimists by shrugging off the tumbling oil price and the ongoing stalemate over Greece to close at its highest level since last July.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 18,000 for the first time since July, leaving it up nearly 15 per cent from its mid-February lows when it was weighed down by worries over global growth and tumbling commodity prices.

More surprisingly still, the US sharemarket appears to have loosened its link with the oil price, with which it has moved in tandem for most of this year. US shares moved higher even though the price of crude slipped after talks between oil producers in Doha on Sunday failed to reach a deal to curb output.

But investors’ optimism could be cut short by a fresh outbreak of jitters over Greece.

source:afr.com

THE Hunter’s schools are suffering under the weight of a $70 million maintenance backlog, part of a statewide school funding black hole.

Figures from the Department of Education reveal that more than a dozen high schools in the Hunter have a maintenance backlog of more than $1 million.

They include Hunter Sports High School, with a backlog of $1.9 million, Maitland High School with $1.6 million, Irrawang High School with $1.5 million and Kurri Kurri High School with $1.4 million.

The worst school in the Hunter is Rutherford High, the only school in the Hunter to top $2 million, and the ninth worst in the state.

That’s despite the school being touted as a leader in high-tech education after the government committed to spending almost $20 million on a major construction project including state-of-the-art classrooms, administration buildings and outdoor areas.

The damning numbers were released to the state Labor opposition after a freedom of information request, and are accurate to June 2015. 

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison has slammed the government for “neglecting” students.

“At a place like Rutherford, which has had a substantial amount of money spent on new buildings, this indicates a situation where you’ve got some students in brand new buildings and some in buildings that are falling down,” she said.

“This can represent anything from leaking roofs to broken windows, and the thing is you know with leaving maintenance work is that it gets worse the longer it’s left.”

The government has sought to blame Labor for the backlog, but Ms Aitchison said the government should “take responsibility”.

“They’ve been in government for five years,” she said,

The government’s parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said that since being elected in 2011 the O’Farrell and Baird governments have committed almost $4 billion to school infrastructure and maintenance, with over $342 million allocated in 2015-16 for school maintenance.

“Additionally, the NSW Government has committed an estimated $42 million to maintenance and capital works at public schools in Maitland, and an estimated $19 million to capital works and maintenance at public schools in Cessnock since the 2011-12 financial year,” Mr MacDonald said.

“This figure includes $247,000 of maintenance at Maitland High School in 2014-15, $369,127 of maintenance at Maitland Grossman High School and $252,933 of maintenance at Cessnock High School.”

source:theherald.com