[Greens-Media] Greens challenge Schools Assistance Bill 2008 in Senate

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Tuesday, 2 December 2008

Greens challenge Schools Assistance Bill 2008 in Senate

The Australian Greens have moved to make education funding in Australia
fairer by amending the Schools Assistance Bill 2008. 

Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Christine Milne
said the Greens amendments would ensure the Rudd government replaced the
flawed Howard government model with a fairer system in two years.

"It is disappointing the Rudd government is continuing with the Howard
government's flawed SES funding model," Senator Milne said.

"The government has committed to a review of the SES funding model, but
it wants to lock in a four year agreement based on the funding model it
described as flawed while in Opposition. The Greens amendment would give
non-government schools funding certainty while allowing the government
two years to complete its review of non-government school funding and
negotiate a more equitable model of funding before the next election."

The Greens amendments: 
*	change the name of the Bill to the 'Non-Government Schools
Assistance Bill 2008';
*	reduce the funding term from four years to two years,  to allow
changes to the funding agreement as soon as the review of the flawed SES
funding model  is completed;
*	calls on the government to provide public schools with an extra
$2.7 billion funding, equal to the amount non-government schools are
overpaid each year under the flawed SES funding model.
	
"Australians deserve an education 'revolution' that lifts the
aspirations of the whole society and funds the education system to
achieve them. We do not need a 'reformation' which locks in the
inequality of the Howard years," Senator Milne said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Advisor 
Senator Bob Brown | Leader of the Australian Greens 
e: ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au 
m: 0409 164 603 | p: (02) 6277 3170 | f: (02) 6277 3185
w: www.bobbrown.org.au <http://www.bobbrown.org.au/>