[Greens-Media] Piccoli must shelter NSW public schools from Pyne's perfidy

[John Kaye]

Piccoli must shelter NSW public schools from Pyne's perfidy

Media release: 30 November 2013

The Greens NSW are calling on the O'Farrell government to make up any money
that Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne strips from the promised
Gonski amounts for public schools, by reducing the state's funding of
Catholic and private schools.

(See attached for funding figures)

Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "NSW public schools should not be allowed to
suffer because of Christopher Pyne's broken promise.

"Nor should Adrian Piccoli let private school lobbying enrich the
non-government sector at the expense of public education.

"Adrian Piccoli's first priority must be ensuring that NSW public schools
get what was promised to them by abandoning the state's commitment to a
$116 million boost to non-government schools.

"Christopher Pyne wants to rip up the national funding agreement and put
even more public funds into private schools.

"The current Federal Education Minister signed onto an election commitment
that the Commonwealth would provide an additional $911 million to NSW
public education in 2015 to 2017.

"Now Christopher Pyne tells state and territory ministers that public
schools are likely to see less than the promised amount while the
non-government sector will be protected or enriched.

"There's only one rational response to this betrayal.

"For every dollar that the federal government fails to deliver to NSW
public schools, Adrian Piccoli should take a dollar out of the state's $116
million funding boost to the non-government sector, starting with the
wealthiest private schools.

"If that is not a big enough pot to maintain the total promised Gonski
amounts for public schools, then the NSW Minister should start dipping into
the $2.9 billion of base funding that the state has committed to the
non-government sector.

"Section 21(3) of the Education Act will need to be re-written to take away
the iron-clad protection of the state's funding of non-government schools.
The Greens will work with the O'Farrell government to make sure the change
gets through the NSW Upper House," Dr Kaye said.

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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