Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. Forty-six primary and secondary schools, and more than 26,000 students in the honourable member's electorate of Brisbane, will benefit from the government's record investment in schools. We are investing an extra $18.6 billion in Australian schools over 10 years. Schools from every sector—government, Catholic, independent—will benefit from our record funding.

But we are not just delivering record funding; we are delivering record needs-based funding, as recommended by David Gonski and as endorsed by David Gonski. It is needs-based funding that is fair and transparent. For the first time in Australia, all schools will receive funding from the Commonwealth based on need. Who could possibly object to a funding model that is based on fairness, transparency and need? For years the Leader of the Opposition—all of the opposition, indeed—and, in particular, the member for Sydney have claimed to be the great champions of needs-based funding. The Leader of the Opposition was so devoted that he called for it 75 times. But, now, we have heard from members of the Labor caucus.

Mr Evans interjecting—

Ms Butler interjecting—

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