Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has certainly been engaged in very constructive discussions with a whole range of state officials on a whole range of issues about a whole range of subjects as part of the Federation reform white paper. As for the matters that were in a paper this morning, let me say this: the Australian government does not and will not support a means test for public education. Full stop. End of story. If the states and territories want to charge wealthy parents fees for public schools, that is a matter for them. Charging wealthy parents for their children to attend public schools is not this government's policy. Let me repeat that: charging wealthy parents for their children to attend public schools is not this government's policy. It is not now. It won't ever be. I entirely endorse the statement earlier today of the Minister for Education.

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