House debates
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Questions without Notice
Education Funding
2:40 pm
Kate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Prime Minister. Before the election, the government loudly told the Australian people, 'You can vote Liberal or Labor and you will get the same amount of funding for your school.' Why has the Prime Minister broken this promise by denying Australian children $7 billion in federal funding in years five and six of the Gonski reforms?
2:41 pm
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The question from the shadow minister is simply misleading, it is simply false. We said over the forward estimates period you would get exactly the same amount of money under the coalition or under the Labor Party. We are actually going to do better than that because in the PEFO statement members opposite cut $1.2 billion from schools in Western Australia, in Queensland and in the Northern Territory. I have to say that, to the great benefit of schools in Western Australia, we put the $1.2 billion back. It is interesting that the shadow minister stands up to ask a question today because she was asked a question herself on Sky News by David Lipson—it is not just David Speers who reduces opposition front benchers to bumbling into coherence. She was asked, 'Will you take to the next election a promise to restore funding in years five and six for the Gonski education funding model?', a very simple question. 'What are you going to do in years five and six?' The shadow minister said, 'Look, what we're focused on is the budget that is in eight weeks time.'
Ms Ryan interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for Lalor will remove herself. She is not in her own seat. She is not entitled to interject and has been warned already.
The member for Lalor then left the chamber.
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
David Lipson again asked, 'Will Labor commit to take that funding for years five and six to the next election?' This is what the shadow minister said, 'But David, it might not shock you to know this is not our election policy launch.' Really and truly: get real, get real!
Kate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the document where the government stated, 'You can vote Liberal or Labor—
Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Under the standing orders, members are allowed to ask for a document to be tabled.
Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Repeatedly, the Leader of the House is given the call to determine that leave before the parliament has been advised what the document is.
Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Madam Speaker, I ask you to check the tapes and you will find that the document had not been described at the time the call was withdrawn.