While some might say there needs to be some maintenance at Junee’s public schools – they’re hardly falling down around people’s ears – in fact they continue to do good work – the Ngumba-Dal Learning Community and AgVision being just two examples.

The state government’s own figures from its Auditor-General don’t make for pleasant reading.

The maintenance backlog illustrates a basic point - there is no end of money that can be spent on education, however every dollar that goes towards it comes back as people develop careers.

Seeing each dollar as a cost does not reflect on the good which comes from preschool, primary, secondary or tertiary education.

Whether children take up a trade, head to university or enlist in the defence forces – a good foundation in education is vital.

The federal government is spending an awful lot of money to talk about the ideas boom, but ideas and innovation don’t come from relentless advertising, they come from people who can think outside the box – which starts with a good education.

All parties in politics need to get their eye on the ball, bury the hatchet and work to deliver an education system which produces people capable of great things.