Federal MP Sarah Henderson defends Catholic school funding overhaul

A FEDERAL MP has hit back at “misinformation” about Catholic schools needing to close, sack staff and hike fees in the wake of a new funding plan.

CORANGAMITE MP Sarah Henderson has hit back at “misinformation” about Catholic schools needing to close, sack staff and increase fees in the wake of a new funding plan.

The federal Liberal MP, a former Catholic schoolgirl herself, responded to criticism of the Government’s “Gonski 2.0” school funding overhaul, backing the new funding agreement.

Under the major funding overhaul announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week, Catholic schools will experience a slower rate of funding growth compared with public and independent schools — still increasing, on average, by 3.7 per cent each year.

In a statement echoing a May 5 Herald Sun opinion piece by Education Minister Simon Birmingham, Ms Henderson dismissed claims the changes would lead to fee increases and staff sackings.

“Despite the misinformation some people are trying to peddle about Catholic schools, there should be no reason for fee rises or staff cutbacks because we have assessed the need of each Catholic­ school and will increase their average per student funding to $12,493,” Ms Henderson said.

“Catholic schools will see a funding increase of 3.7 per cent a year over the next decade.

“Our reforms are 100 per cent consistent with the philosophy that every school student deserves government support, regardless of where their parents choose to send them to school.”

Ms Henderson’s comments came after Catholic Education Commission of Victoria executive director Stephen Elder last week said the changes would lead to school closures, rising fees and larger class sizes.

Mr Elder said the changes would “fundamentally reshape” Catholic education.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott also spoke against the changes, claiming moves to “relatively disadvantage” Catholic­ schools would be wrong.

“Knowing a little bit about politics, I suspect that the Government will decide that it’s on a loser if it does anything that looks like it’s disadvantaging Catholic schools,” he said during a visit to Mandurah Catholic College south of Perth.

Originally published as Federal MP Sarah Henderson defends Catholic school funding overhaul