Kate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Under the announcement made by the government today, can state governments cut their school funding budgets?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister did indicate earlier, when he was asked about what state governments would do, that that form of words is getting very close to being outside the standing orders—as the Prime Minister is not responsible for state governments. However, I will allow the question to stand.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we see again is more shameless effrontery from members opposite. Let us be clear about what they are doing. Members opposite are complaining because we are putting back in the money they ripped out. They are unhappy about that. The truth is that the people of Australia can trust us in a way they could never trust old 'Billion Dollar Bill' over there—$1.2 billion ripped out of school funding.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It would assist the House if the Prime Minister were to withdraw that statement about the Leader of the Opposition.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To assist the House, I am happy to withdraw. In fact—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I asked the Prime Minister to withdraw to assist the House and that is what he has done.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I raise the issue of direct relevance. It was a very specific question about the relationship between Commonwealth agreements and what they will allow the states to do.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, of course I should not have used that phrase to describe the Leader of the Opposition, because it was $1.2 billion, not just $1 billion, that he ripped out of school funding. We will change the Australian Education Act passed by the former government to end the Canberra command and control system that was put in place by members opposite.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Reds under the schoolbooks.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley is warned.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government will run a consultative and collegial system. We will end the blame game and we will work cooperatively with the states, and I believe that the states will honour their commitments to spend more money on schools.