Gonski legislation 'yet to be drafted'

JULIA Gillard's promise to have legislation for her "education crusade" introduced into parliament by the end of this year is in doubt.

JULIA Gillard's promise to have legislation for her "education crusade" introduced into parliament by the end of this year is in doubt after departmental officials revealed a bill has not yet been drafted and there are only eight sitting days left.

Senate estimates also heard the Prime Minister's pledge to have a school funding model to take to the states in April next year was further imperilled by the fact the government did not yet have a funding model and had gone to stakeholders with different options.

In Ms Gillard's speech on the Gonski school reforms last month, she pledged to lift school standards and to introduce legislation by the end of the year to "enshrine our nation's expectations for what we will achieve for our children, our vision of the quality of education . . . and our preparedness to put success for every child at the heart of how we deliver and fund education".

Education Department secretary Lisa Paul told Senate estimates yesterday it was going to be "tight" to get the legislation introduced into parliament by the end of the year.

She said the Office of Parliamentary Counsel had been given initial instructions to draft the bill but nothing had gone to the states or cabinet because "there isn't a bill to be seen yet".

"Of course it's going to be tight," Ms Paul said yesterday, under questioning from Liberal senator Brett Mason. "But it builds on a whole year's activity."

Kim Carr told the hearing a month was plenty of time to meet the promise and School Education Minister Peter Garrett was planning to introduce legislation in the last sitting week next month.

The Senate education, employment and workplace relations committee also heard there was not yet a funding model for states to consider and provide feedback before the COAG meeting in April.

Department officials said formal talks about the funding breakdown between the commonwealth, states and territories had not started.

Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne said the revelations in Senate estimates showed the Gillard government's response to Gonski was a hoax when the school sectors needed certainty around funding.

"There is no model, there is no money, there is no bill, there is no negotiation with the states, there is no cabinet decision," Mr Pyne said.

"Instead of providing certainty, this is more chaotic than Kindergarten Cop starring Arnold Schwarzenegger."