Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The assistant minister has just demonstrated very effectively two things. The first is that 10 minutes can sometimes seem like a very, very long time—and we are sympathetic. But she has also shown herself worthy of promotion, because what a homage she has delivered to Minister Birmingham, the man who can talk around any subject without getting to the nub of the issue—almost as good as the impression given of our Prime Minister by Lawrence Mooney, but perhaps you can get there, Assistant Minister.

The assistant minister made a number of references to the process this government has gone through—and I will come back to them—but what we need to start on here is the nub of this issue, and that is this: in 2014 this government declared war on schools. This government declared war on Australian schools in ripping up the unity ticket that it proclaimed under the member for Sturt and the member for Warringah. They probably do not remember that. It is very clear that the Prime Minister does not remember it. I think he should look at the Hansard of question time today; he will find it very awkward reading. They have declared war on schools funding. Today they come into this place and ask for credit for ending the war that they started. That is the insult. The injury is that, instead of cutting $30 billion, they are cutting $22 billion—nearly $6.5 billion over the forward estimates, and this goes to the crux of it.

Listen to the mutterings from the table. They are using David Gonski as a human shield because they cannot confront the simple fact that what David Gonski did in 2011 was to call for urgent action to deliver needs based funding, and what do we get from this government? The absolute reverse. Let's forget about the obfuscation. Let's forget about the play with numbers. Under this government's proposal it is not only less money; it is guaranteeing that most kids in public schools—in fact 85 per cent—will not be at schools under the schooling resourcing standard in 2027. On this side of the House, education is a priority. On this side of the House, we see investing in quality school education as the key to every child fulfilling their potential—but also to Australia fulfilling our potential. That is something that is missing from those opposite. They are oblivious. The Prime Minister should also reflect not just on the sound and fury of today at question time but on his past commitment to innovation. This is stripping our future, in harness of course with the cruel cuts to higher education which have been persisted with, despite some other sophistry in the form of window-dressing by the minister.

I do think it is worth reflecting on the Prime Minister's performance in question time today: sound and fury, signifying absolutely nothing. It was very interesting that he started question time talking about fairness. When the pivot came to education there was a word he did not say. What was it?

Opposition members: Fairness.

Because he understands, as do all Australians, that, whatever else this policy is, it is not fair. I will give the Prime Minister some credit. There was a person less convincing than him in question time today. It was the minister who took the Dorothy Dixer. He spoke of harmony and prosperity when it came to education, and he conjured up images of the forgotten people. We, on this side of the House, know the forgotten people are Australian kids. They have been abandoned by this government.

But it is not just the Prime Minister. It is not just Minister Frydenberg. I think we also need to reflect on two other parties that have a role to play in this debate. Senator Hanson-Young appears to be the only person who is buying what this government is selling. The attitude of the Greens to this massive betrayal of equity is tantamount to the weakness of the case that has been put. I was so disappointed the assistant minister did not have more time. I hope that other speakers will go through the stakeholders who are supportive. Every day we will come here and talk about education and the poverty of your government's vision.

I have not had a chance to speak on the failure to support remote and regional students—a matter which should be of interest to the Nationals—and the complete abandonment of students with a disability. One thing is very clear under this government: every Australian does not count when it comes to a schooling education. These are $22 billion worth of cuts that will constrain the future of Australian kids everywhere, and they will constrain all of our futures. The government stands condemned for this policy. (Time expired)

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