On the topic of the many problems left by the previous Government, in early February the New South Wales Department of Education released its enrolment growth audit. The Government requested an enrolment growth audit to understand the impact of population trends on student enrolment projections. It is particularly important for areas like Leppington and other growth electorates in north-west and south-west Sydney. The audit was a key election commitment of our Government as part of its growth areas schools plan. Unlike with the previous Government, the plan was made to ensure that families in fast‑growing areas have timely access to high-quality public schools.

The audit found that the top 10 student growth areas between 2018 and 2023 were all located in Sydney's west and collectively accounted for close to 40 per cent of all student enrolment across the State. Despite those areas having been identified as growth precincts by successive New South Wales governments since the mid‑2000s, planning has failed to deliver the much-needed schools. Leppington, Catherine Field, Edmondson Park, Denham Court and Bardia were identified as examples of areas where a failure to factor in the speed of development left families without the local public schools they need. The Leppington and Catherine Field catchment has grown by 173 per cent since 2018, while the Denham Court-Bardia catchment has grown by 290 per cent, placing them within the top 10 for growth in student enrolment in New South Wales.

To be honest, we did not need an audit to reveal how behind areas like Leppington, Denham Court and Edmondson Park are; one just needs to go there and talk to the people of south-west Sydney. I did that during the campaign, as did the Premier and the Deputy Premier, the education Minister. On the other hand, the previous Government ignored Leppington and the south-west. What was the result? The school that the former Government built was built on top of three gas pipelines. Denham Court Public School was built on three underground, cross‑country gas pipelines which, due to risk, places a fixed capacity on the school.

Due to the obvious risk of loss of containment of gas or fire and the potential thermal radiation impact on the school site, there is an onsite limit of 1,000 people. Despite the amazing work of the fabulous teachers and staff, and the great assistance they receive from the P&C, we have a ridiculous situation where the school cannot hold a full assembly. They have to send half the school home so that they do not exceed the capacity. They bring in the parents, send that half out, bring the other half back and then bring their parents in. It is unbelievable negligence as a result of the poor planning and decision‑making of the former Government.

Despite that negligence, now fully exposed by the audit, in under 12 months the Minns Labor Government has set about fixing the mess left by the Liberal-Nationals Coalition. The Government has committed to upgrading four primary schools, in Austral, Leppington, Prestons and West Hoxton. Eagle Vale High School is being converted into a specialist sports high school, and a new high school is being built in Leppington. Members will be relieved to know—but it will not come as a surprise—that those schools will not be built and upgraded on gas pipelines. It is not a good idea. That is on top of the Minns Labor Government's long-term investment to repair public education in Western Sydney and across the State.

There is a record investment of $3.5 billion to build 24 and upgrade 51 public primary and high schools in Western Sydney alone. The Government is also investing $769 million to build 100 new public preschools over the next three years. Again, that is a record investment by a New South Wales government. This includes five preschools in my electorate at Kearns, Robert Townson, Eschol Park, Greenway Park and Leppington primary schools. We are also committing an extra 243 support classes for students with a disability, making the New South Wales public education system more inclusive and accessible.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to building new and upgraded facilities to make sure that access to high-quality education is a right for every student in the State, no matter where they live. Targeted investment in growing communities is what is needed. Supported by this audit, we will continue to allocate investment wisely and effectively to ensure that families have access to world-class public education.