Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

If the honourable members would stop shouting, I can give them some information, if they have any interest in it. At the moment, the students in Tasmania are funded at the same level regardless of the level of disability, whether it is what is described as supplementary, substantial or extensive. Under the nationally consistent level, the funding percentage—the loading—for students with what is described as a supplementary level of disability is 42 per cent in primary and 33 per cent in secondary. At a substantial level of disability, it is 146 per cent in primary and 116 per cent in secondary. And for extensive disability, it is 312 per cent in primary and 240 per cent in secondary. That is the reason for the change. It is a nationally consistent measure. What it means is that more students in Tasmania, and indeed across the country, will be receiving supplementary support, additional support, for disabilities, but it will be done on a nationally consistent basis.

Comparing the funding under the government's nationally consistent plan, which has been agreed to by the jurisdictions, with what is happening at the moment is not comparing like with like. That is the point. It is consistent and it is transparent and, I might say, in reference to something that used to be very close to the honourable member's heart, it is needs based. It is needs based. She used to like that.

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