Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Forde for his question, because I know that he, like me and the rest of the government, is wildly enthusiastic about more autonomy in public schools around Australia. He, like this side of the House, believes that the outcomes for students should be our priority in schools and that putting students first is our priority, not putting the union first.

The government, before the election, promised that we would deliver 1,500 more schools with greater autonomy over four years from 2014 onwards. I am very pleased to be able to report to the House after this year of achievement that in 2015, starting next year, 800 schools around Australia, more than half of our four-year goal, will already be delivered in 2015—next year.

The states and territories that have signed up so far include the ACT, where 86 schools will gain more autonomy; the Northern Territory, where 15 schools will be independent public schools; Queensland, where 130 schools will be independent public schools; South Australia, where 225 more schools will gain autonomy; Tasmania, where 120 schools will gain more autonomy; and Victoria, where 250 schools will gain more autonomy just in 2015.

New South Wales has agreed to sign up to the Independent Public Schools initiative. We are yet to finalise the agreement, but when New South Wales signs up in the very near future that will be another big injection of schools gaining more autonomy.

Western Australia, of course, is the pin-up state in terms of independent public schooling and, to their great credit, they have said they will spend their own money and go their own way on independent public schooling. I take my hat off to Western Australia for wanting to go their own way in an area that is state and territory responsibility. The reason we are doing this—

Ms MacTiernan interjecting—

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