Country Labor candidate for Port Macquarie Peter Alley said the government, after years of neglect, had suddenly discovered schools and discovered maintenance in schools.

But Port Macquarie MP Williams said over the past four years the government had worked tirelessly in partnership with our local schools so they were kept in the best condition.

The Coalition and Labor have both vowed to clear the outstanding maintenance jobs.

“We’re now wiping the slate clean and ensuring all outstanding maintenance jobs at our schools such as carpeting, roof maintenance and painting works will be carried out,” Mrs Williams said.

“When we came into government in 2011, we inherited a $1 billion school maintenance backlog from the former Labor Government.”

Labor disputes that figure, putting it at $156 million in 2011.

Mr Alley said a Labor government would clear the backlog.

“The backlog in Port Macquarie will be cleared by an incoming Labor government because we prioritise schools over stadiums,” he said.

Mr Alley said the maintenance backlog across the Hastings Secondary College two campuses was $3.1 million.

“On Port Macquarie Public School, the maintenance backlog has blown out to $928,364. On the Hastings Public School - $889,234,” he said.

“Next on the list is Westport Public School at $642,045 and Kendall Public School at $622,715.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Williams said every school in the Port Macquarie electorate would have its maintenance backlog wiped to zero under a Coalition government so every student enjoyed the best possible learning environments.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will clear every maintenance job currently outstanding in our 22 local public schools by July 2020,” she said.

Mrs Williams said the government was committed to hire an additional 4600 teachers to join the ranks of the public school system over the next four years.

The state election is set down for March 23.

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