The Rudd Government last year splurged $10.4 billion on a package designed to stimulate the economy. After initially noting a rise in sales, unAustralian Of The Year nomination, Gerry Harvey, now reckons that sales are such that it’s like the stimulus “never happened.” (Mind you, it could just be the kind of rhetoric that makes it easier for Harvey to shut stores and shed jobs.)

In other news, Australia spends about $1,000 less per year, per public school student on buildings and equipment than Britain and the USA. For the relatively paltry sum of $2.2 billion per year we could bridge the gap and — dare I say? — start an education revolution that would deliver strong and positive long term benefits for this nation.

Behold the sheer brilliance of the Brumby-Pike plan for educational reform:

Principals will help burnt-out teachers find new jobs under reforms proposed for Victorian schools.

They’ll sack ‘em.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike released a discussion paper yesterday addressing ways to remove under-performing teachers. “It’s true there are some teachers who become disengaged from the educational process,” Ms Pike said.

They’re shite.

“I think there needs to be an opportunity for them to consider an alternative career.”

They should piss off. 

Ms Pike said some schools had lost the confidence of parents and their community.

They’re shite too.

Under-performing schools would face greater scrutiny and more hands-on management from outside.

We’ll take those ones over and kick arse.

Australian Education Union state president Mary Bluett said the paper failed to acknowledge the need for more money for Victoria’s teachers, the nation’s lowest paid.

‘Give us more money’ – leftists.