Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bonner for his question. I know that he is deeply committed to the Turnbull government's massive boost to school funding throughout this country—$18.6 billion, a 75 per cent increase; more than 9,000 schools will benefit. There are 45 schools in the electorate of Bonner, with 27,000 students, and they will benefit from the Turnbull government's announcement—like the Rochedale school, with more than 1,300 students, which will get an extra $11 million, and like the St Agnes Catholic Primary School, with more than 300 students, which will get a significant funding boost of more than $4 million. I am asked about funding by the Queensland government for public schools in that state. The most recent Productivity Commission report provides telling reading, because it says that the Queensland government has increased funding for public schools by only 2.1 per cent. Commonwealth funding for Queensland public schools during the same time has increased by 9.5 per cent—a complete contrast.

I am asked about alternative approaches. We know that the Leader of the Opposition claimed that Catholic schools will face fee increases. The member for Sydney went even further: she said that there will be fee increases and schools will close. So, what does the executive director of the Brisbane Catholic Education Office say when she writes to all her parents? I quote—listen closely: 'We will receive an increase in government funding, not a reduction. We thank the federal government for its continuing support and its commitment to providing fair and equitable funding for the next decade.'

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