House debates Questions without Notice
Education Funding
Kate Ellis Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education
2:36 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. At the last election voters saw coalition signs at polling booths that read: 'The Liberals will match Labor's school funding dollar for dollar.' So will the Prime Minister live up to this promise and restore the $30 billion in school funding that he has already cut and match Labor's investment, for the 'Your Child. Our Future' schools plan, dollar for dollar?
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:37 pm
I know it is always a rush, coming into question time—
Ms Plibersek interjecting—
so many pieces of paper, and it is easy to get the question pack confused. The honourable member has just asked me the same question—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Sydney, who I have already asked to stop holding that sign, is warned!
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I am absolutely delighted to return to this subject about school funding, because I can tell you right now that we not only matched Labor's funding for schools for the four years of the funding agreement but we exceeded it. We exceeded it by $1.2 billion.
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
Mr Speaker, a point of order and point of clarification: the Prime Minister referred the question to the minister for education. The member for Sturt is not the minister for education. And does he indeed represent the minister for education in this House?
Mr Husic interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Chifley will cease interjecting.
Ms Rishworth interjecting—
The member for Kingston will cease interjecting. I am waiting to hear the Leader of the House on the point of order.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I am not surprised that the member for Adelaide does not want me to answer this question, because she was rather routinely dealt with when I was the Minister for Education. But I am also the Minister representing the Minister for Employment in this House, and therefore education has a very significant role to play in the employment of young people. As a consequence, I feel that I am very able—
Honourable members interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The House will come to order! I commend the Leader of the House for an admirable try. We are going to move to the next question.