Catholic schools slam NSW Education boss over ‘outrageously bad’ ABC interview

The ABC has kicked off a culture war over private education, sparking fierce retribution from the Catholic school sector to controversial remarks from the boss of the NSW education department.

Mr Dizdar (left) was forced to walk back his comments after they were flagged with Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

Premier Chris Minns has said he would be “a giant hypocrite” if he attempted to put an end to private education, after controversial comments made by the NSW education department boss that the existence of non-government schools should be “debated and discussed”.

The Premier on Tuesday defended NSW Department of Education secretary Murat Dizdar, who made the comments to the ABC’s Australian Story program, but stressed that while Mr Dizdar’s personal view is not one held by the government.

“He’s entitled to his view, NSW is not a dictatorship and people are entitled to have their say on different policy issues,” Mr Minns said.

“I want to make it completely clear that we support choice for parents in NSW. It does provide parents in our state the opportunity to enrol their kids in religious education, Catholic education, independent education and that’s a good thing.”

The Premier, who attended a Catholic school as a child, has been open about sending his own sons to Catholic school.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Prue Car at Kogarah High School on Tuesday. Picture: Christian Gilles / NewsWire

“We’re certainly not going to stop it or change policies in relation to it … I’d personally be a giant hypocrite if I did try and end it,” he said.

However, opposition leader Mark Speakman said the Secretary’s comments have undermined parents’ choice to work hard and make sacrifices to send their children to a school that best suits their needs and values.

Murat Dizdar, Secretary of the Dept of Education, has sparked controversy with his ABC interview. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

“Labor’s Education Secretary wants to take that choice away from families. That’s unacceptable and untenable,” he said.

Acting Shadow Minister for Education Justin Clancy said school choice “is not a privilege — it’s a right”.

“Mr Dizdar’s comments are out of step and wildly inappropriate for someone in his position.”

Monday night’s episode of Australian Story profiled the top bureaucrat’s rise to his current $626,000 per year salary, but prior to the show’s broadcast Mr Dizdar’s controversial language had already attracted the attention of Catholic Schools NSW boss Dallas McInerney.

The ABC’s Australian Story episode sparked controversy before it even went to air. Picture: David Gray

In a preview article for the episode posted to the ABC’s online news website, Mr Dizdar was quoted as having told the public broadcaster the existence of private schools “needs to be debated and discussed”.

“I’m not sure that when you look at the facts around the globe, you need that provision,” Mr Dizdar is quoted.

“We’ve had countries across the world that have been very successful on their educational path with one provision, and that’s been a public provision. It needs to be debated and discussed.”

The article immediately sparked outrage in the Catholic school sector, with CEO Mr McInerney confirming to staff he had spoken to the Secretary, Premier Chris Minns’ office and Education Minister Prue Car’s office to express his “deep concern”.

Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney.

“The Secretary’s comments are outrageously bad and very worrying for Catholic Education,” Mr McInerney wrote.

“It is significant for all the wrong reasons when the (sic) NSW’s most senior Educational official puts a question mark over the role and future of our (and other non-government) schools, and further invites a national discussion about his preference for a one provision (public only) model of schooling for Australia.

“Thankfully, the Department does not make policy; it is charged with implementing Government policy.

“Pleasingly, the NSW Government has confirmed that Mr Dizdar’s comments do not reflect Government policy and its commitment to school choice and multisector school provision for New South Wales remains unchanged.”

A clarification was later shared on the NSW Department of Education website, with Mr Dizdar stating he had “not intended to disrespect the good work of my colleagues in other sectors”.

“I recognise and value the important role the Catholic and Independent sectors play in our education system in NSW, now and into the future,” he wrote.

NSW Premier Chris Minns during Question Time at State Parliament. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The Daily Telegraph understands the quotes used in the online article never appeared in the producers’ final cut of the episode, and weren’t included in the program that went to air on Monday.

Association of Independent Schools of NSW chief executive Margery Evans, who was also interviewed by the ABC for the piece, said she was “pleased that the Secretary of the Department of Education has retracted his unfortunate remarks”.

“Not-for-profit Independent and Catholic schools have educated Australian children for 200 years and they continue to grow because they have parents’ confidence and support,” she said.

“It is unconstructive to yearn for an overseas education model that never existed in this country.

“Australia’s education leaders should focus on making their schools as good as they can be and trust families to decide which school is the best fit for their child.”

Association of Independent Schools of NSW chief executive Margery Evans. Picture: Supplied

While the ‘Class Wars’ episode of Australian Story did not include Mr Dizdar’s doubts over the existing school funding model, in the broadcast the Secretary admitted declining enrolments in the public system have “really hurt on a personal front” and have added up to an $810 million loss of funding.

The share of NSW students enrolled in public schools has been steadily declining, falling from 66.7 per cent in 2006 to 62.2 per cent in 2024 according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

“I don’t like the fact that we’ve lost 25,000 students that were with us in our system and have made alternative choices,” he told the program.

“I want to win back those enrolments.”