Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I sat quietly through the earlier speakers and I do not expect that the same respect would be shown to me, but I understand that there are different levels of respect in this place. I did sit quietly through the speeches. I want to acknowledge the principals in the gallery who have come here today, because they come to hear a logical debate. They come to hear a factual debate, and I think what they heard when we referred to the budget was that there were going to be cuts to their schools. As principals, that should scare them. If the choreographed line of the Labor Party is to scare and intimidate principals around Australia, then continue on. We have those principals who are in this chamber today; those principals in my electorate, where I have 71 schools; I think the member for McMahon has 39 or 49 schools; and the member for Rankin, who spoke earlier, has about 39. Whilst I was listening to their contributions—their heartfelt contributions—I went through and had a look on the online calculator. The reality is that not one of their schools, when you refer to the education department's online calculator, actually takes a cut. Yet, when you listen to—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

The member for McMahon has 49 schools. I am not going to bore you with statistics, you can have a look at it—

Opposition members interjecting—

Oh, righto—you want a go? Let's go. Here comes the chuckle. We currently fund your Emmaus Catholic College with $11½ million dollars, which will increase to $12 million, an increase of around $400,000. Pick a school, a school per member, and I will tell you what the increase in your area is going to be. Old Guildford Public School—apparently we fund it to the tune of $1.176 million, and there is going to be an increase of $59,600. Pick another school—anyone. Merrylands High School—an increase of $119,000. The reality is, when you refer to the online calculator there is not one school which is going to take a cut. But listen to those on the other side of the House come to this chamber and bleat that there are going to be cuts and use intimidatory and bullying tactics, wanting to scare those principals who come here in good faith. I know those principals are good people. I know they come here wanting to influence outcomes for their children and their students and their schools. They come into this chamber and hear mendacious claims that their school budgets are going to be cut—the contempt that they have been shown needs to be dealt with.

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