MPs rebel on private school hit

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell faces a backbench revolt over plans to slash public funding from Catholic and independent schools.

Adrian Piccoli

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell faces a backbench revolt this morning over his government's plans to slash $67 million a year in public funding from Catholic and independent schools.

The independent schools sector has also lashed the plan, with one official describing it as worse than the "hit list" of private schools drafted by former Labor leader Mark Latham during the 2004 federal election campaign.

A number of Liberal MPs said yesterday the move by NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli, who is deputy leader of the Nationals, was at odds with core Liberal values. They are also angry they were not consulted before Mr Piccoli briefed non-government school representatives last week.

Last Friday, The Australian revealed the cut to funding, which is part of the government's attempt to find $2.2 billion in savings over five years. Despite Mr O'Farrell's reassurances yesterday that a final decision had not yet been made, it is understood up to 20 Liberal backbenchers are prepared to speak on the issue when the party convenes this morning before the parliamentary sitting week.

Several told The Australian the issue had generated more heat with their constituents than any other issue since last year's state election, which Mr O'Farrell won in a landslide.

Hundreds of protest emails had been received in MPs' offices.

One backbencher, Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott, has circulated a reply that one recipient provided to The Australian.

"Given my parents sacrificed home ownership to allow me to attend a Christian school, I am very passionate, and protective, of the role the private sector has in providing quality education," Mr Elliott wrote in the email. "Rest assured that as your local member, I will vigorously oppose any cuts to non-government school funding."

Independent schools yesterday accused the Coalition government of betrayal, given the "widespread support it has enjoyed from private school parents".

The government's plans were also criticised yesterday by Sydney Archbishop George Pell, who questioned the contradictory message they sent, given Mr Piccoli's support for the Gonski review of school funding.

"The cut came as a total surprise in the light of the NSW government's pre-election commitments to non-government schools and the Minister for Education's longstanding enthusiasm for the Gonski review, expressed as recently as Tuesday," Cardinal Pell said.

In a letter to Mr O'Farrell, the chairman of the NSW branch of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools, John Collier, said the proposed cuts were worse than the "hit list" of private schools drafted by Mr Latham during the 2004 federal election campaign.

"This king hit on funding of independent schools represents the greatest assault on our sector in the past five decades," the letter says.

"There is tremendous anger amongst school communities that such a step could be taken by a Coalition government, which has thus far enjoyed widespread support from the parents in our community."

Dr Collier is principal of St Andrew's Cathedral School.