It is time the Rudd and Keneally Labor Governments came clean with people on the waste and alleged gouging that is occurring under the Building the Education Revolution.

The Nationals Duty Senator for New England John Williams said it is no longer sufficient for Minister Gillard to say there are isolated problems and overall the programme is delivering much-needed facilities, when it is plain there is little or no value for money in many cases.

Senator Williams has referred to media reports that The Reed Group which is Managing Contractor for New England is separately charging fees on all work done, and the Group had been contacted last year by the NSW Government quantity surveyor who expressed concern over project cost blowouts.

"An Inverell builder contacted me in April last year expressing surprise at how uncompetitive his quote was for a Covered Outdoor Learning Area at Tulloona School in the north west. He believes the successful quote for the same project was almost four times as much.

The Government's quantity surveyor has since said the Reed Group's charge for the preliminary site works at Tulloona School was far too high, and the foundations were over-designed.

Manilla Central School is another example of high prices, where two demountables have cost a staggering $1.8 million.

In July I attended a meeting convened by The Reed Group in Tamworth where one of their representatives indicated they were only covering costs and "there is nothing in it for us" or words to that effect.

If media reports are correct, that appears not to be the case.

Knowing that some school principals are afraid of repercussions if they speak out, I have asked parent organisations from schools in New England to contact me if they have concerns about over-quoting and value for money", Senator Williams said