Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. A paper circulated by the Prime Minister's own department suggests a schools tax could be imposed on parents with children at public schools. Is this new schools tax designed to make up for the Abbott government's cuts to states and territories for public school funding?

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

There have been no cuts. Funding goes up every single year.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon will desist.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

The member for Sydney has asked the question and will desist.

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

As the minister for education made clear in his previous answer, Commonwealth funding for schools goes up eight per cent this year, eight per cent next year, six per cent the year after that and four per cent in the final year of the forward estimates. Our funding for schools goes up and up and up. We have fully delivered on our pre-election commitments. In fact, we have overdelivered, because we put back in $1.2 billion that members opposite had cut out—$1.2 billion that members opposite had ripped out of the state school systems in two states and one territory. We put it back because of the splendid arguments put to me and the Treasurer by the minister for education.

We hear time and time again from members opposite of the so-called billions that were cut. This was money that never existed. It was pie-in-the-sky money that was promised beyond the forward estimates by the former government—

Ms O'Neil interjecting—

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

The member for Hotham has been warned and will desist or leave. The choice is hers.

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

They never had any intention and they certainly never had any capability to spend the money. But I have a simple question for the member who asked me: if she thinks $30 billion has been cut out, will she put it back? If this is a real funding gap, will the opposition put it back? Will they put it back?

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

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

She is coming to the dispatch box to tell us the truth. Will she or won't she put that $30 billion back? That is the question; give us the answer. Is the money going back? Because if you will not say yes—

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Raving—

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

The member for Isaacs is doing a bit of raving himself and will desist.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table both the budget overview and—

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

For the edification of the member for Sydney, you will remember, perhaps, that public documents may not be subject to tabling.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

That does not excuse you from trying to table a document that cannot be.