Coronavirus: Scott Morrison personally intervened to stop Catholic school system shutdown

Scott Morrison intervened to stop almost 600 Catholic schools from closing in a call to Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher.

It’s understood Scott Morrison called Archbishop Anthony Fisher to advise him to reconsider the decision to close schools. Picture: Hollie Adams

Scott Morrison personally intervened to prevent almost 600 Catholic schools across NSW from closing in an early morning call to Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher seeking a guarantee the sector would pull back and keep school gates open.

A letter obtained by The Australian from the chief executive of the NSW Association of Independent Schools, Geoff Newcombe, indicated that in a separate conversation with him, the Prime Minister linked federal government funding to his insistence schools remain open.

“He reminded me that in this situation there were certain expectations attached to the recurrent funding provided by the Australian Government to Catholic and independent schools. He asked if I would convey this message to schools in our Association, as well as colleagues in other states and territories,’’ Mr Newcombe wrote.

Click here to read the full letter

The Australian understands the directors of 11 Catholic dio­ceses in NSW on Tuesday made a decision to close all 595 schools across the state within weeks.

The directors were acting on advice from the NSW government that the Department of Education was planning to take unilateral ­action and call an early end to Term 1 for public schools in NSW.

It is understood that on Wednesday morning — following Tuesday night’s national cabinet meeting — Mr Morrison called Archbishop Fisher to advise him of the federal government’s position and asked him to reconsider the closure decision.

The archbishop is believed to have then issued a directive to the local dioceses that they would be expected to follow the federal government’s official advice.

The Australian understands that a similar call by the Prime Minister was made to Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli.

Are you comfortable with schools remaining open? Tell us in the comments how a closure might affect your family and...

Posted by The Australian on Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Schools that closed in response to the spread of COVID-19 were also being urged by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday to reopen doors based on the recommendation of health ­officials reporting to the national cabinet.

Catholic Schools NSW, the largest provider of education in the country after public schools, with 595 schools and 260,00 students across the state, confirmed it would follow the official advice and not initiate a closure.

The sector has already seen a 25 per cent absentee rate over the past several weeks, with concerned parents pulling their children out of class. However, it said it would continue to monitor and ­review the situation. Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney said schools would comply with Mr Morrison’s statement that there was no health advice to suggest the need for closures. “We are fully subscribed to the official position. The strength of the response so far has been a ­united front from Catholic, public and independent schools. We continue to plan for a range of scen­arios, which is prudent,” he said.

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Mr Morrison said on Tuesday there would be no forced closures of schools as part of the national response to the virus based on the advice from the Chief Medical ­Officer, Brendan Murphy. “The health advice is that schools should remain open,” Mr Morrison said.

“That is the health advice. Interestingly, this is also what Singapore has done. Singapore has been one of the more successful countries. In Singapore, the schools are open. In Singapore, they’ve been quite effective in managing and limiting the transmission of this virus in that country. The health advice here, supported by all the premiers, all the chief ministers and my government is that schools should remain open.”

The PM’s health advice, supported by all the premiers and the chief ministers is that schools should remain open.

National Catholic Education Commission executive director Jacinta Collins released a statement on Wednesday insisting Catholic schools would adhere to government advice to remain open. “While there is significant concern and debate regarding school closures in Australia to minimise the spread of COVID-19, it is our view that the government and public health authorities are in the best position to determine whether schools should remain open and we will adhere to this advice.

“The government and Australia’s Chief Medical Officer are in agreement that this is the best course of action to protect those in the community who are more likely to experience serious impacts of the virus, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, and to ensure that health workers and other critical frontline staff can remain at work.”

Ms Collins, a former Labor senator, took over running the NCEC a year ago. Her comments put her at odds with those of the heads of Sydney Catholic Schools and the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, who have called for school buildings to close as “a matter of urgency”.

“The first priority for all Catholic schools is the health and safety of our students and staff, and as such, the Catholic sector is monitoring and responding quickly to the advice of federal, state and territory governments and medical authorities as the situation develops,” Ms Collins said.

“Should it become necessary for schools to close in some states or territories, or across Australia, our school communities will follow this advice and seek to minimise the impact on student learning.”