Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. How much taxpayers’ money will the government spend on its education advertising campaign between now and the election?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Education Union has embarked on one of the most dishonest campaigns that we have seen.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister has the call. The member for Lingiari is warned!

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a blatant ongoing campaign designed to mislead the Australian public about the true state of education funding in this country.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order: standing order 104. This is about taxpayers’ money.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has only just begun to answer her question. She is in order.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian Education Union has embarked on a blatantly dishonest campaign designed to mislead the Australian public about the true state of funding for state government schools across this country. This campaign is a not-so-subtle attack on Catholic and independent schools, and the Labor Party have got the Education Union to do their dirty work. This is an attack on Catholic and independent schools and—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order.

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You don’t like the answer!

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We want an answer to how much taxpayers’ money is being spent on education advertising.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order. The minister was asked a question about education; the minister is in order.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For example, this advertising campaign by the Australian Education Union leaves out entirely the fact that funding for state government schools is primarily the responsibility of state governments. It falsely claims that the Australian government has decreased funding for state government schools, when in fact the Australian government has increased funding for state government schools in real terms by over 70 per cent since 1996. The AEU’s advertising campaign also suggests that there is a bias in favour of Catholic and independent schools when in fact that is not the case.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order under standing order 104.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. I have been listening carefully. The minister was asked a question on education and advertising. I have already ruled on that, and the minister is in order.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The fact is that there is a bias in favour of state government schools in terms of public funding. Sixty-seven per cent of Australian students attend a state government school, and those schools receive 75 per cent of total public funding. This is a fact, yet the Australian Education Union is out there misleading the Australian public, putting out false information to Australian parents and attacking Catholic and independent schools. The Australian government is obliged to set the record straight and it is considering its options.