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

My question is to the Prime Minister. When the Prime Minister's department worked up options to cut Australian government funding to public schools, was there any consultation with the cabinet?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do appreciate the opportunity to answer this question again. I have the opportunity now to reveal that Labor, of course, have not committed any extra funds to schools over the course of the forward estimates or into the future. Do not just take my word for it, Madam Speaker, because the member for Adelaide, who is on maternity leave at the moment, was asked in March last year by David Lipson on Sky, 'But again I'll ask you, will Labor commit to take that funding for years 5 and 6 to the next election?' and the member for Adelaide said, 'But, David, it might not shock you to know this is not our election policy launch today.' That was in March last year.

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 on direct relevance. The question is asking about consultation with the cabinet. The minister has not gone anywhere near that point.

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

I would ask the minister to address the question.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I can address the question by telling you that, as the Minister for Education and Training, I talk to the Prime Minister about school education all the time—not just the Prime Minister; I talk to the Treasurer about it; I talk to all my colleagues about it, because the cabinet is absolutely gripped by what we are trying to do in school education, not only in school funding but in terms of more autonomy, in terms of reforming the national curriculum, teacher training and parental engagement, I am always talking to my colleagues and consulting with them about how we can improve the outcomes for students, building on the catastrophic record of the Labor Party when they were in office at state and federal level over the last 10 years.

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.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I could not be more relevant. I am dealing directly with consultation in the government around the cabinet.

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

The minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a different point of order?

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

Madam Speaker, if the answer is no, he should just say that and sit down.

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

The member will resume his seat and not abuse the standing orders!

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we are seeing here, of course, is an attempt by the Manager of Opposition Business to stop the quotes from the member for Adelaide being read out. David Lipson went on to say: 'Isn't it a bit hollow, though, to call on the government to do that if you're not committed to doing it yourself?' It is a very good question. The member for Adelaide said, 'Well, obviously we'll make a budget reply in a few weeks time.' Well, they did that in 2014. It did not mention school funding. They had another budget reply this year, in 2015—no mention of school funding. The shadow Treasurer has been asked about it time and time again and not committed to any extra funding for schools. The member for Port Adelaide was asked about it by the union and the Labor states and territories in The Australian a couple of weeks ago, in a very good story by Sarah Martin from The Australian, from our great state of South Australia. Again, he obfuscated. The Leader of the Opposition has been asked about it by Neil Mitchell on radio. He refuses to commit to it. So we are seeing the hollowness of Labor's campaign, the hypocrisy of their latest scare campaign, demanding of the government something they will not commit to themselves, whereas we are increasing funding. We are increasing funding over the next four years, and students will be the better for it, but they will also be the better for us focusing on the basics that matter.