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

The truth for Catholic education across Australia is that, on a per student basis, funding is growing quite significantly. In terms of additional funding, Catholic education around the country will this year receive around 4.7 per cent more funding than they received last year. Over the course of the next four years there is more than 20 per cent growth; over the course of the next decade, it is closer to 56 per cent. That is real, strong growth in funding into Catholic ed—above inflation and above wages growth—along with real additional funding into public schools, who have been so critical today of the Labor Party's policy. And all of it will be delivered according to a consistent principle. The shame of those opposite is that you have thrown any principle out the door in favour of politicking. You have wasted the time of David Gonski and his panel, you have turned your back on their work and instead you just think you can buy votes in schools rather than fund them according to the needs of their students.