Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thought I had seen it all in this place but, unfortunately, we have seen a new low in the parliament. We have seen a debate on education gagged by the Labor Party after only last night delivering and tabling 71 new pages of amendments to the Australian Education Bill and allowing less than 90 minutes for debate in this chamber to analyse and assess that bill.

We know the reason. They do not want there to be any analysis of these amendments because within all the detail of the amendments that they dumped into the House last night, there is the notion of capacity to contribute, a new measure for parents to pay. It is a means-test on parents who choose to send their children to independent or Catholic schools. It is a new hit list on schools. The Prime Minister knows all about hit lists, because it was the Prime Minister with former Leader of the Labor Party Mark Latham who drew up a hit list on schools. She is now delivering that as Prime Minister in this place.

It is a disgrace that we did not have the opportunity to fully debate the amendments. It is a disgrace that the negotiations have been conducted in secret and it is a disgrace that this Prime Minister will not stand up for educational outcomes for all Australians.