Private schools ‘targets of Labor hostility’, says Coalition

The Coalition has accused Labor of demonstrating ‘hostility towards non-government schools’ alongside the Greens’ ‘vilification’ of the sector that has sparked concerns from peak bodies.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Coalition has accused Labor of demonstrating “hostility towards non-government schools” alongside the Greens’ “vilification” of the sector that has sparked concerns from peak bodies.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson on Tuesday called on the government to offer the same scholarships and grants to private schools as were available to public institutions.

As the Greens face a concerted campaign from Independent Schools Australia in key seats such as Brisbane and Ryan following the minor party’s “attacks” on the value of private schools, the opposition lashed Labor for discriminating against non-government schools.

“Labor’s discriminatory policies include limiting the $160m commonwealth teaching scholarships program to only those who work in public schools. Non-government schools are also excluded from the $25m Workload Reduction Fund under the government’s Teacher Workforce Action Plan,” Senator Henderson said.

“As a result of a government-commissioned report, there is also a black cloud over the future of tax-deductible library and scholarship funds, as well as tax incentives to support religious education in public schools.”

Senator Henderson called on Education Minister Jason Clare to extend the next round of teaching scholarships to all student-teachers and begin treating “all schools fairly and equitably”.

“In this cost-of-living crisis, how can the government turn its back on low-fee-paying private schools, particularly in rural and remote areas where workforce shortages are so acute?” she said.

The Australian understands if the teaching scholarships are undersubscribed, they are opened to teachers who want to go to non-government schools.

ISA on Tuesday revealed it would pursue a nationwide campaign against the Greens, highlighting the minor party’s “relentless and baseless vilification” of the sector.

The Australian understands independent schools will be provided with a toolkit from ISA containing campaign materials they can use if they choose to.

The Greens rubbished the campaign, declaring they simply had concerns over wealthy institutes overcharging parents.

In response to the criticism from Senator Henderson of the government’s own treatment of private schools, Mr Clare said his focus was on the public sector.

“All non-government schools are either fully funded or on a trajectory to be, and we aren’t changing that,” he said.

“However, no public school, outside the ACT, is fully funded. That’s where our focus is, working with states and territories to properly fund our public schools.”

On the Coalition’s concerns over the Workload Reduction Fund, The Australian understands non-government schools are not excluded.

Mr Clare said his government had put $16bn on the table to convince the states to sign up to the new schools agreement, and had already struck deals with Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

“We want to do similar deals with other states,” he said. “We also recognise that parents should have choice when it comes to schooling.”