Unfortunately, millions of dollars in project fees is going to a Sydney firm while, as we have uncovered, more than half of the building companies involved are also outsiders.

That's a shame. And, indeed, opponents of this federal program will not surprisingly make political capital of this.

Despite the problems with the program, however, most school communities are elated at the outcome.

If former PM Kevin Rudd can look back and be pleased about any initiative, then it is the BER stimulus funding that has given schools across the nation new halls, libraries and classrooms.

And another thing ...

We seem to recall that when Cheryl Kernot appeared at an Illawarra Connection dinner she didn't have a lot of good things to say about politics. She seemed to be enjoying lecturing about social entrepreneurship. Her bid then for a Senate seat is curious. That said, it won't hurt to raise the level of debate in Federal Parliament about where our society is heading.