Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Nash for her question. This is very similar to a set of questions that were asked last week which sought to make the accusation that universities would close, that public hospitals would close and that there would be terrible wreckage throughout the economy. I make the point to the senator—through you, Mr President—that the funding arrangements for schools and other publicly supported areas of the economy have formulas which allow for responding to increases in the costs of those sectors. The way that is measured varies across sectors and different indexes are used. Clearly any extra costs that are imposed on schools would be compensated in adjustments that were made in their funding measures.

I point out that if Senator Nash and the opposition were genuinely interested in schools they would have supported our huge investment through the BER in every primary school in Australia. That is $16 billion of new facilities. It is interesting: there has been $16 billion of investment in every school in Australia, yet, despite opposing those things in this parliament, when they turn up at the openings there is no mention of their opposition.