Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Scullion for his contribution to this debate on the Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Amend­ment Bill 2011. We believe that the passage of this bill will provide important support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. I would ask Senator Scullion to refer to the explanatory memorandum, which explains quite clearly that the government's intention is to align these programs with the review of school funding that is occurring. There is no deliberate attempt to provide difficulty with the tenure of these programs and I am sure Senator Scullion is aware that we are conducting a comprehensive review of school funding initiatives. I also cannot help but note that he comes from the coalition that supported Work Choices, which had perhaps the most profound impacts on employment tenure.