MP Cathy McGowan slams Catholic campaign against Gonski school funding reforms

THE Catholic campaign against the Turnbull government’s school funding reforms has been blasted by independent MP and former Catholic school board chair Cathy McGowan.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visits a school with Education Minister Simon Birmingham. Picture: Chris Pavlich

THE Catholic campaign against the Turnbull government’s school funding reforms has been blasted by independent MP and former Catholic school board chair Cathy McGowan.

The fate of the government’s plan to inject an extra $18.6 billion into the nation’s schools is set to be decided by the Senate this week, amid claims from Catholic schools that it will actually cut their funding and force up fees.

OVERFUNDED SCHOOLS GET MORE IF REFORMS FAIL

GONSKI BRIEFS GREENS ON PLAN

Ms McGowan, a former teacher who chaired Wodonga’s Catholic education board before she entered parliament, said she was “extraordinarily disappointed” with the Catholic campaign against needs-based funding.

“They haven’t sought to become more transparent,” the Indi MP told the Herald Sun. “All they’re doing is saying ‘we want more money’.”

Education Minister Simon Birmingham (pictured) has been backed by the independent MP. Picture: Dave Hunt

Ms McGowan said needs-based funding — as recommended by prominent businessman David Gonski — provided transparency to schools and parents about the money provided to educate their children.

“I had first-hand experience of how hard it was for my board and my principals to run the schools because we did not have transparency about the funding,” she said.

“I’m backing (Education Minister Simon Birmingham) in the need for clarity, particularly in the Catholic school system ... I don’t think that’s been there in the past.”

Labor is refusing to support the Gonski plan, claiming it cuts $22 billion from schools, so the government is locked in negotiations with crossbench senators.

Senator Birmingham has reportedly offered a compromise to win support from the Greens, which includes extra money going to schools more quickly, as well as an independent resourcing watchdog.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visits a school with Education Minister Simon Birmingham. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Ms McGowan, who voted for the reforms in the lower house, said she was “very happy to go into bat for more money for my schools” once proper needs-based funding was introduced.

This is the last parliamentary sitting week before the winter recess but Greens leader Richard Di Natale warned today that a deal may not necessarily be struck before the six-week break.

HOW MUCH WILL YOUR SCHOOL GET?

”We’re not going to be rushed into a timetable simply because it’s the government that wants to rush this through the Senate and neutralise a tricky political issue,” Senator Di Natale said.

Senator Birmingham said the government wanted to ensure all schools were “treated consistently and according to need”.

But Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said the reforms, if successful, would result in “huge” cuts to public schools and funding boosts for elite private schools.

@tminear