Irate Birmingham cancels Lib fundraiser over MP’s criticism

Simon Birmingham quit a state Liberal fundraiser after The Australian reported criticism of him.

Several senior ­col­leagues of Senator Birmingham have been incensed by his ­decision to go to war with the Catholic sector.

Simon Birmingham cancelled his appearance at a $5000-a-head fundraiser for the Victorian Liberal Party after a senior state MP blasted the Education Minister’s handling of the Catholic funding crisis.

Senator Birmingham was due to be the star attraction at a Liberal fundraiser next week that would have netted the party up to $50,000 but quit the event after The Australian reported criticism of him.

His office said last night he would be prepared to attend the Enterprise Victoria function on the condition any money went to his federal colleagues.

State Liberal education spokesman Tim Smith this week described Senator Birmingham’s Catholic funding policy as an “omni-shambles’’ and accused the Turnbull government of being more committed to flattering businessman David Gonski.

Senior Liberals said Senator Birmingham was furious with Mr Smith’s comments, which were sparked by the church’s campaign over schools funding policy.

A spokesman for Senator Birmingham said: “The minister is available for the event on the basis that it is exclusively in support of his Victorian federal colleagues.”

MPs campaigning for the state election in Victoria’s west have been spooked by the backlash among Catholic voters concerned by rising school fees and potential campus closures.

The Australian understands there was reluctance within the state party to attack the federal government but MPs felt there was no option.

Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Stephen Elder said yesterday he would be prepared to speak to the Liberal fundraising event to outline what was wrong with Senator Birmingham’s approach.

“I am happy to speak to them to tell them why this is a total car crash,’’ Mr Elder said.

State MPs are alarmed because the row has bled into the second half of this year and the state poll is on November 24.

Just as there is angst among state MPs, several senior ­col­leagues of Senator Birmingham have been incensed by his ­decision to go to war with the Catholic sector.

The church is in deep negoti­ations with the Education Minister over how much extra cash they should receive for the bungled socio-economic-status funding model.

The church is expecting up to $2 billion but final details were still being discussed yesterday.

There is cross-factional bewilderment within the Coalition at the way Senator Birmingham has picked a fight with the church.

The current SES system estimates what people can afford to pay in school fees based on the neighbourhood where they live.

Each family is assigned to a neighbourhood of about 200 households, and judged to have the average characteristics of that neighbourhood, but that means an elite boarding school can be judged to be poorer than an inner-city Catholic school.

A review by businessman ­Michael Chaney ­backed the dumping of the SES score system, confirming that the Catholic ­sector had been ­materially ­disadvantaged.