[Greens-Media] Pyne's Gonski back-flip leaves NSW footing the private school bill

[John Kaye]

Pyne's Gonski back-flip leaves NSW footing the private school bill

Media release: 29 November 2013

As Education ministers meet today, the Greens are warning that changes to
NSW legislation could force the O'Farrell government to increase its
subsidies to private and Catholic schools by $320 million even if the
Commonwealth reneges in the Gonski deal.

Public schools might receive none of the $1.4 billion in state Gonski
funding promised to it for 2015 to 2019, according to Greens NSW MP John
Kaye.

('Gonski fallout: NSW at risk of facing huge school funding bill ', Sydney
Morning Herald, 29 November, p. 11, http://j.mp/smh131129)

Changes to section 21 of the Education Act passed through parliament this
month requires the NSW Education Minister to 'maintain financial assistance
in respect of non-government school children at the level that the State
was obliged to contribute under' the National Education Reform Agreement,
signed by then Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Premier Barry O'Farrell in
April, even if it is ceases to operate. (Section 21(3) at
http://j.mp/EdnActS21)

Dr Kaye said: "When spokespeople for the non-government sector
enthusiastically supported Federal Minister Christopher Pyne's back-flip on
the National Education Reform Agreement, they knew they had nothing to
lose.

"Recent changes to the NSW Education Act lock the O'Farrell government into
providing private and Catholic schools with their Gonski amounts, while
public education has no such protection.

"The $1.4 billion funding boost to the state's public schools is now at
risk, while non-government schools are guaranteed by law to receive their
additional $320 million over the next six years.

"It's clear that the private school lobby is out to get its hands on public
education's much-needed Gonski funding boost. With their state subsidies
locked in by law and a federal minister who is enthusiastically pulling
apart the national agreement, they are in the box seat to get their way.

"The O'Farrell government might now regret the protection for private and
Catholic schools funding they inserted into the Education Act.

"They have unleashed the non-government sector lobby, setting it free to
pressure Christopher Pyne for a better federal deal without any threat of
the state withholding money.

"The Greens would be happy to help Mr Piccoli escape the bind the private
school industry has dumped him in. With our support in the Upper House, he
could easily repeal the funding guarantee.

"Federal Minister Christopher Pyne has imposed intolerable uncertainty on
NSW public schools while the non-government sector knows it will get its
Gonski amounts and probably much more," Dr Kaye say.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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