School funding: Turnbull Government seeks to end Gonski fight with $24b sweetener

SCHOOLS look set to get an extra $24 billion in federal funding over the next few years if the Turnbull Government does a deal to secure its Gonski reforms.

SCHOOLS look set to get an extra $24 billion in federal funding over the next few years if the Turnbull Government does a deal to secure its Gonski reforms this week.

The Turnbull Government is considering adding an extra $5 billion to the $18.6 billion already in the federal budget for schools’ funding to secure the Greens’ support.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham has confirmed the government wants to pass the Gonski reforms in the next four days to give schools some funding certainty before the Parliament’s six-week winter break.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the government will need to pour money into schools over a shorter time-frame if it wants the party’s support for its Gonski reforms. Picture Kym Smith

Education Minister Simon Birmingham has offered a compromise to the Greens that includes reducing the rollout timetable from 10 years to six, more accountability over state government funding, and an independent watchdog. Greens education spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said that addressed their fundamental concerns.

Shortening the funding rollout period could boost the existing package by $5 billion.

The Greens could finalise their position at a meeting on Tuesday, before the Senate debates legislation on Wednesday.

If the government gets the Greens on board, only one other crossbench vote will be needed.

.@RichardDiNatale says the schools package can't be rushed... 'I want to see the model done right'. #auspol MORE https://t.co/dp1goFINS5 pic.twitter.com/cW1H2fAeBG

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) June 19, 2017

Minister Birmingham is also considering including a special funding package for the Northern Territory and an independent national watchdog, recommended in the Gonski Report, to secure support for the reforms, Fairfax Media reports.

Minister for Education Simon Birmingham. Picture: AAP.

He was coy on the extra $5 billion on offer this morning but said the government would continue its “pragmatic” negotiations with the Greens and senate crossbenchers to get the Gonski reforms through.

“We hope that these matters can be resolved this week,” he told ABC radio.

“We want to get school funding arrangements settled so that schools themselves can get on with planning for next year and beyond.”

The Minister is facing opposition from within his own party if the original Gonski funding package is not updated however, with WA Liberal senator Chris Back vowing to cross the floor unless Catholic schools are given a fair deal.

Yearly growth for Catholic education under our Gonski needs-based funding plan #auspol pic.twitter.com/3TSXX2C0vW

— Simon Birmingham (@Birmo) June 18, 2017

The Australian reports that One Nation could give Senator Birmingham the votes he needs to push through the Gonski 2.0 reforms, even if Senator Back crosses the floor.

One Nation whip Brian Burston told The Australian he had ­informed Senator Birmingham that the party’s four senators would “support Gonski in its current form”, even though party leader Pauline Hanson remained coy on One Nation’s position.

Senator Brian Burston told The Australian he had ­informed Senator Birmingham that the party’s four senators would “support Gonski in its current form”. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s a fair deal, it’s based on need, and the fact a school can apply for extra funding based on special needs I think is a good thing,’’ Senator Burston said.

Senator Birmingham said he had spoken Senator Back and was confident he would support the Government’s reforms.

The government’s schools funding overhaul, which dis­mantles 27 deals and rips up state agreements, will deliver the same funding rules for all students nationwide regardless of where they live or go to school.

The package redirects more needs-based money to public schools.

Catholic schools would receive $3.4 billion extra under the original proposal, but lose about $4 billion over the decade because their funding would not grow as fast as it would compared to Labor’s existing Gonski model.

The government’s schools funding overhaul, which dis­mantles 27 deals and rips up state agreements, will deliver the same funding rules for all students nationwide regardless of where they live or go to school.

The package redirects more needs-based money to public schools.

Catholic schools would receive $3.4 billion extra under the original proposal, but lose about $4 billion over the decade because their funding would not grow as fast as it would compared to Labor’s existing Gonski model.

Labor and the Australian Education Union say the deal is not good enough. “There is no way the Labor party will support $22 billion worth of cuts to our schools,” Labor leader Bill Shorten told reporters in Canberra.

Read more at The Australian.