Church campaign could reignite at next election

The funding war between the Catholic Church and the Turnbull government last year may have dire consequences for the Coalition.

Catholic school enrolments are down because of fee-rise fears.

The rhetorical war that broke out between the Catholic Church and the Turnbull government last year over school funding has resurfaced and may have dire political consequences for the Coalition.

After Coalition ministers last year accused the Catholic Education Office of telling lies and spreading “mistruths”, the government agreed to a review of the basis for individual school funding. John Howard and the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, worked to head off a new sectarian fight, and the war moved into a lull.

But Turnbull government determination and resentment didn’t go away and nor did the Catholic conviction that the biggest non-state school sector in Australia was facing a short-term funding cliff and a long-term loss under Education Minister Simon Birmingham’s restructured school funding.

This month Bill Shorten’s determination to mine the tribal loyalties redoubled during the Batman by-election campaign when he offered the Catholic school system an extra $250 million.

Victorian Catholics vigorously campaigned politically and backed Labor in the election last Saturday.

What’s worse for the Coalition this year is that tangible evidence is emerging that Catholic school enrolments are down because of fears of fee rises and, as The Australian reveals today, the Education Minister is telling Catholic schools they will get less funding as the rebellion spreads beyond Victoria.

Birmingham made things even worse by stupidly accusing the Victorian Catholics of being like Judas and betraying Christ for a few pieces of silver in accepting Shorten’s $250m.

The agreement to have the funding formula reviewed was essential in settling the “war” last year and, unless the minister has no intention of changing anything, it should be used to bolster his public argument and limit Catholic retaliation.

The Batman example may just be a foretaste of the next federal election, when a national campaign could be run from every Catholic school in every electorate.