Resource states condemn education deal as 'reduction'

NSW and Victoria have vowed to negotiate with the Gillard government but the resource states have savaged the education reforms.

THE nation's two most populous states have vowed to negotiate with the Gillard government on education reform but the $14.5 billion plan has been savaged as a "mirage" by Queensland and a "terrible deal" for Western Australia.

NSW and Victoria yesterday represented the strongest hope for Julia Gillard after senior ministers vowed to negotiate to secure a viable outcome from one of the centrepieces of the Prime Minister's bid for re-election. While Victoria attacked the way the commonwealth dropped the strategy in the days before this week's Council of Australian Governments meeting, Education Minister Martin Dixon said the Napthine government was open to negotiating with Canberra.

However, it would be essential to crunch the numbers to ensure school systems would not suffer under the Gillard government's Gonski model.

"We've always said we've been more than happy to negotiate and work with the government," he told The Australian.

"We haven't actually had any funding negotiations at all, yet."

NSW Education MinisterAdrian Piccoli said the government would continue to back the Gonski reforms.

"We continue to work constructively with the commonwealth to turn this review into an opportunity for all of our students," he said.

The decision by the two most powerful conservative states to negotiate with Canberra provides Ms Gillard with a potentially powerful wedge around the COAG table this week, with the apparent backing of South Australia's Labor government.

Queensland also will negotiate but has been scathing of the commonwealth, which has promised $2 in school funding for every $1 the state premiers agree to pay.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett condemned the plan for cutting funds to the state's students and indicated he would not sign up to the scheme.

"This is a terrible deal for WA," Mr Barnett said, adding: "Under the commonwealth's model there would be 25 per cent less funding per student than WA already provides. It is incredibly disappointing that we have been unable to have a constructive, positive discussion about the future of education.

"As I have said before, WA will not sign up to any model that results in a reduction in state government funding to state government schools."

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman dismissed the schools-funding proposal as a "great big mirage" in an election year.

He pointed out that the federal government was already saddled with debt and questioned how it would come up with additional billions for schools.

"Where is the money coming from?" Mr Newman said. "I just get the feeling it's a great big mirage in an election year -- five months before the election."

South Australian Labor Premier Jay Weatherill welcomed the proposed funding model, but said negotiations over his state's share were ongoing.

"We're deep in negotiations and we share the commonwealth's ambition about wanting to make sure that we put more money into our schools so that every single child in this country gets the individual attention they need to be the very best they can be," he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: ROSANNE BARRETT and MARK SCHLIEBS