Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Earlier this week, St Patrick's College, a great school in my electorate, at Sutherland, sent out a letter to parents and carers. It stated:

The Federal Government has this week to pass the legislation, which will leave low-fee Catholic school systems, including ours, financially worse off …

This is simply not true. The facts are that, in the current year, St Patrick's College receive $8,308,000. Next year, they will receive an increase—I repeat, an increase—of $318,700. Next year they will receive a per student increase of $255. That money will go into a pot for the Catholic school system for New South Wales, which can be allocated as the Catholic school system sees fit. That pot will be 3.8 per cent larger. The Catholic schools in New South Wales are getting more money. They are getting more money over and above inflation. Next year, St Patrick's College, in my electorate, will receive more resources from the federal government. To say otherwise is simply misleading. I call on those in the Catholic school system to not send out letters that mislead the pupils in my electorate. (Time expired)

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