Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to Catholic education in Victoria, I am happy to inform the Senate that average funding will grow from around $8,800 per student in 2017 to $12,200 per student by 2027. That is clear growth in relation to Catholic education, clear growth specifically in relation to Victoria, and it ensures that Catholic education in Victoria continues to receive per-student funding in excess of other non-government schools on average, reflecting the need of students in that system. What we are applying here is consistency, and of course those opposite do not understand that, because every fibre of their being is about doing special deals. The Turnbull government want to stand for fair, consistent application of the one funding formula across all schools, rather than doing the types of special deals that those opposite cherish but that we oppose because we are about giving a fair, needs based deal to all Australian schools.