[Greens-Media] State & fed govts fund growth of Exclusive Brethren schools

[John Kaye]

State & fed govts fund growth of Exclusive Brethren schools

Media Release: 2 October 2008

State and federal government funding of Exclusive Brethren schools continues to rapidly increase despite concerns raised by Prime Minister Rudd about the behaviour of the sect and its effects of families, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Commenting on a story on page 5 of today's Sydney Morning Herald ('Brethren Schools net $18m funding'), Dr Kaye said: "Each state government is now exposed for its role in supporting the growth of a group branded by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as 'an extremist cult and sect'. 

"Figures obtained by the Greens through freedom of information and questions on notice show more than $5.8 million a year flowing from state governments to Brethren schools.

"In NSW, the Rees government is pouring about $2 million into the M.E.T. school, on top of more than $5 million from the Commonwealth.

"The State Premiers can no longer hide. Their governments are contributing about 30% of funding to secretive Brethren schools.

"Before the last Federal election, Kevin Rudd accused the Exclusive Brethren of 'break[ing] up families' and said he was 'deeply concerned about their impact on communities across Australia'.

"It is time for state and federal education ministers to turn these words into action. There is an urgent need for rules about how public funds are spent on exclusionary and secretive private schools.

"As long as these schools refuse to enrol children who are not members of the closed sect and as long as they continue to operate behind closed doors, there is no justification for the spectacular growth in public financial support.

"Kevin Rudd pointed to real problems in the Exclusive Brethren providing education that does not give 'access to the full range of information technology assistance'.

"Neither state nor Commonwealth money should be used to subsidise the sect's deeply divisive agenda of indoctrinating vulnerable children," Dr Kaye said.


For more information:	John Kaye 0407 195 455  

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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000