[Greens-Media] SENATOR KERRY NETTLE: Mundine plan to charge public school parents higher taxes - unfair and counter-productive

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

05.05.06

Mundine plan to charge public school parents higher taxes - unfair and
counter-productive


Greens Education spokesperson, Senator Kerry Nettle, today called on
Labor President Warren Mundine to justify why he thinks parents who send
their kids to public schools should be  forced to pay higher taxes.

"Schools funding policies should be about quality not about punishing
parents who support the public system," Senator Nettle said.

"Mr Mundine's plan is to create two tax systems in Australia one for
parents with kids in private schools and another more expensive system
for parents with children in public schools.

"Such a scheme would do absolutely nothing to improve educational
outcomes for Australian children.

"The debate should focus on where the next federal education dollar is
most effectively spent to increase the quality of the system. 

"The current federal schools funding and regulatory systems are unfair
and illogical and need changing urgently. The Greens propose a national
inquiry to establish the best way to raise educational standards for all
Australian kids."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146