Stokes stands by school funding policy

The NSW government is not backing down from demands for “needs-based, sector-blind” schools funding.

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan. Picture: AAP

The NSW government is not backing down from demands for “needs-based, sector-blind” schools funding as federal Education Minister Dan Tehan ­concedes the state has the power to block a $4.5 billion deal for ­Catholics.

Mr Tehan will this week meet his NSW Liberal counterpart Rob Stokes, who says his “position on this matter has not changed”.

“In NSW we have held firm with the Gonski principles of needs-based, sector-blind funding,” Mr Stokes said.

“(This means) funding based on the needs of each student, ­regardless of where they live or what school they attend. These are principles that must be at the centre of any new school funding deal.”

Mr Tehan contradicted federal Finance Minister Mathias Cormann yesterday when he said the state government could disrupt the implementation of its funding peace offering with the Catholic independent schools.

“They could (stop the plan) if they want to; we pay our share to state schools, Catholic schools and independent schools through the NSW government,” Mr Tehan told ABC’s Insiders.

“I will sit down with Rob and explain to him we do have record funding going to state schools. We will have a civilised discussion and I will point out the facts. I don’t know a state or territory government that doesn’t want more money for one thing or ­another.”

Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney told The Australian that Mr Stokes could end the uncertainty for parents “with a call to Canberra”.

“Rob Stokes is the Minister for all NSW schools, not just government schools,’’ he said.

“The funding changes announced last Thursday are a direct result of a key Gonski recommendation regarding fairer funding for non-government schools.

“We call on Mr Stokes to sign the bilateral funding agreement with the commonwealth on behalf of all NSW schools that will deliver this funding and also to commit to maintaining the NSW government’s historical share of state funding, so that the parents of non-government school students have certainty regarding the fees they pay.”

Senator Cormann said on Friday that Mr Stokes “doesn’t have to sign up to the funding arrangements with non-government schools”.

Mr Stokes said he was “looking forward” to this week’s meeting with Mr Tehan to “ensure that we strike a solution that maximises funding for all NSW students, across all Catholic, independent, and public schools”.

Mr Tehan said: “What we have done is acted on the recommendations that were made by Michael Chaney in his review of school resourcing.

“He was presented with a ­policy problem because David Gonski pointed out in 2011 that you could work out a more direct model.”

That model would now use tax records to calculate the level of funding for schools.

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek told the ABC yesterday that the deal “isn’t fair”.

“I just don’t understand how a government can pitch the children of Catholic and independent schools against the children that go to public schools and say that the public school kids deserve less than other children,” she said.