Item 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total

-2011 -2012 -2013 -2014 -2015 $m

Discontinuing the Reward Payment for School Improvements programme 0 17 50 93 0 160
The Reward Payment for School Improvements programme provides cash grants to schools
based on improvements in performance as measured against set benchmarks. This poorly
designed programme is unlikely to achieve its stated objectives and will not ensure that the most
disadvantaged schools receive assistance. The Coalition would discontinue this programme
saving $160 million over the forward estimates.
Discontinuing funding to the National Solar Schools programme 0 0 0 51 0 51
The National Solar Schools programme provides funding for the installation of solar panels on
school buildings. The Coalition would discontinue this programme saving $51 million. The
Coalition’s Direct Action Plan includes specific measures to provide funding to assist schools to
install solar power units. The Coalition’s more comprehensive solar plan is part of a package of
measures that will reduce Australia’s emissions through direct action.
Further cuts in funding to the GP Super Clinics programme 0 10 0 0 0 10
Despite first promising GP Super Clinics in the 2007 election, the Government has only
delivered 8 operational clinics out of a total 64 promised clinics. The Coalition would redirect
the additional $10 million committed to this programme in MYEFO to the flood recovery effort.
Reducing spending on the Automotive Transformation Scheme (ATS) 0 212 158 130 0 500
The Automotive Transformation Scheme (ATS) is an industry support package for the
automotive sector that was increased as part of the Government’s stimulus measures. In
government, the Coalition undertook to phase down automotive subsidies by 2015. The
Coalition will reduce funding in the ATS programme by $500 million over the forward
estimates, reducing the level of industry assistance to what it would have been under a Coalition
Government.
Discontinuing the Online Diagnostic Tools for Parents and Teachers programme 0 16 11 10 0 37
This programme seeks to fund online tools for parents and teachers to assess individual students
against various tests, such as NAPLAN. The Coalition believes that schools are best placed to
achieve these objectives which can be met from existing funding arrangements. Discontinuing
this programme would save $37 million over the forward estimates.
Discontinuing the Helping Our Kids Understand Finance programme 0 4 4 0 0 8
The Helping Our Kids Understand Finance programme funds ASIC officials to instruct teachers
in financial literacy. The Coalition believes that financial literacy is important but that schools
are best placed to achieve these objectives and that it should be met from existing curriculum
resources, saving $8 million. The Coalition already has a policy commitment to provide $20
million to supplement curriculum training.
Deferring funding from the Australia Indonesia Education Partnership 0 102 123 122 102 448
This measure was announced by the Prime Minister in November 2010 to build and expand
schools, train teaching staff and accredit Islamic schools in Indonesia. The Coalition strongly
advocated for a review of Australia’s overseas aid programme at the last election and has
welcomed the Government’s review. The Coalition believes that this new programme should be
subject to consideration by the Review to determine that it meets our international aid and
foreign policy objectives and that it will be efficiently and effectively implemented to provide
value for money. As a consequence, the Coalition recommends deferral of spending in this
programme, saving $448 million over the forward estimates.
Partial deferral of water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin 0 250 350 0 0 600
This measure will seek to defer partially funding for water buybacks resulting in a saving of
$600 million over the forward estimates. It is clear that the Basin Plan is in disarray. Until there
is a plan that has the support of Basin communities, infrastructure spending should be prioritised
and water buy-backs should be deferred.
Redirecting the remaining funds from the Building Better Regional Cities programme 0 31 36 36 0 103
This Building Better Regional Cities programme proposes to invest in additional housing
infrastructure in regional cities. As part of its flood recovery package, the Government has
redirected $100m from this programme to recovery efforts. The Coalition will seek to redirect
the remaining balance of the program to rebuilding infrastructure in flood-affected areas, with
savings of $103 million over the forward estimates.
Delaying funding under the so-called Building the Education Revolution (BER) 0 150 0 0 0 150
programme
The BER programme has been a totemic example of the Rudd-Gillard Government’s incapacity
to deliver infrastructure to school communities according to what schools actually need and
want as well as failing to deliver value for the taxpayer dollar.
The blow-out in the BER programme alone, at $1.7 billion, would have largely offset any need
for a flood tax had the Government exercised prudent financial and implementation oversight.

There is $496.2 million in unspent BER funding that will be provided to the states and territories
for 2011-12 and from these funds, the Coalition proposes to defer $100 million of this spending.
In addition, the Coalition will defer the repayment of $50m to the NSW Government, originally
withheld upon recommendation of the Orgill Taskforce, due to their failure to deliver value for
money. The repayment of these monies, on the eve of the NSW election, was only recently
announced by the Gillard Government.
TOTAL $2,065