Up to 20 schools have been earmarked for closure as Premier Lara Giddings revealed the state was $500 million in the red when she announced today's state budget.
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The hit list includes seven northern schools, which Education Minister Nick McKim will consider for closure.
Those schools are:
- Avoca
- Westbury
- The Fingal campus of St Marys District High school
- Mole Creek
- Ringarooma
- Meander
- Bracknell
Today's state budget also reveals that 100 police officers will be cut over the next four years as the government looks to find savings worth 1700 jobs.
Ms Giddings outlined savings worth $290 million this year, adding up to $1.4 billion over the next four years.
Other key budget points are:
- Public sector wage increases limited to 2% a year. They have averaged 5.3% a year for the past decade.
- Increased dividends from government businesses including Hydro, Aurora and Transend.
- The removal of the 5% water and sewerage price rise cap from July 1, replaced by a 10% cap this year. This will be removed the following year.
- Cutting about $500 million out of health over the next four years, however health spending will increase this coming financial year.
Ms Giddings said the budget contained politically unpopular decisions that had to be made to get the state back on a sustainable economic footing.
FULL COVERAGE AND ANALYSIS OF TODAY'S BUDGET WILL BE IN THE EXAMINER'S SPECIAL EIGHT-PAGE WRAPPER TOMORROW
