Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister's own department circulate the Federation green paper that provides an option that would see the Australian government walk away from any responsibility for funding public schools?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has certainly been engaged in very constructive discussions with a whole range of state officials on a whole range of issues about a whole range of subjects as part of the Federation reform white paper. As for the matters that were in a paper this morning, let me say this: the Australian government does not and will not support a means test for public education. Full stop. End of story. If the states and territories want to charge wealthy parents fees for public schools, that is a matter for them. Charging wealthy parents for their children to attend public schools is not this government's policy. Let me repeat that: charging wealthy parents for their children to attend public schools is not this government's policy. It is not now. It won't ever be. I entirely endorse the statement earlier today of the Minister for Education.