Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answer on this issue. Given the Prime Minister has said that if the states impose a schools tax that is a matter for them, what action has the government determined to take should any state or territory impose a schools tax?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is stretching a long way towards hypothetical but I will give the Prime Minister the call.

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

I repeat: it is not the Commonwealth's policy. It is absolutely not the Commonwealth's policy. What the states and territories do in respect of public schools is entirely a matter for them. Unlike members opposite, who are always trying to raise yet another scare campaign, there are some Labor leaders who are prepared to talk seriously about our future. I notice that the South Australian Labor government is prepared to have a serious talk about tax reform.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Abandoning government schools!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will desist.

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

. I notice that the South Australian Labor government is prepared to have a serious talk about energy reform, including nuclear energy, in this country. The South Australian Labor Premier said when asked about this today that it was 'only a discussion paper', but the South Australian Labor Premier went on to say: 'We have been asking them to canvas the broader range of options; there is a broad debate going on about Commonwealth-state relations, which is a good thing.' We are perfectly happy to see a broad debate about the future of reform in this country, but I do have to say that the actual running of public schools is entirely a matter for the states and territories.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The running, not the funding.

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

I hear members opposite catcalling 'not the funding'. I can inform members opposite that over the next four years there will be a 28 per cent increase in Commonwealth funding for public schools. I say to members opposite, you can run all the scare campaigns you like but, in the end, people want to know where you stand. They are starting to get some answers. What members opposite stand for is taxing super, putting up rent and bringing back the people smugglers.