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

My question is to the Prime Minister. The National Catholic Education Commission has warned that the government's $30 billion of cuts to schools will mean that 'fees will increase, schools could close and the quality of education will be compromised'. In light of this serious warning, why is the Prime Minister persisting with his cuts to schools, refusing to adopt Labor's 'Your Child. Our Future' plan, which will give every student in every school every opportunity?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the minister—members on my left will cease interjecting. I have not called the minister yet.

Mrs Griggs interjecting—

Mrs McNamara interjecting—

The members for Solomon and Dobell will cease interjecting. Other members will cease interjecting. Interjections are disorderly at all times, but particularly during a question. The members for Solomon and Dobell have been warned before. They are warned again now. The minister has the call.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for this question. I must say, I was somewhat surprised to see the release of a document the other day that purported to be an education policy, but I would say that this document was badly named, because it was not an education policy; it was a 'save Bill' policy. That is what this is about; it is all about a 'save Bill' policy. Labor's three-page thought bubble was just another unfunded, irresponsible policy on the run by the Labor Party to save the hide of the Leader of the Opposition.

This government is investing record levels of funding in Australian schools—some $69.4 billion over the four years to 2018-19, an increase of over 27 per cent, including $5 billion of investment for students with a disability, a record investment—

Mr Conroy interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Charlton will cease interjecting.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

for students who face the challenge of learning with a disability. Commonwealth funding continues to grow year on year, and we know that the important thing is how the money is spent. We need to be spending money that we can afford to spend to get quality outcomes.

Mr Champion interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield, again.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australian parents want to know that their education dollar is being spent wisely. They want to know that it is going to result improved education outcomes for their children. And we are focusing on what counts: improving teacher quality, a stronger curriculum, increased parental engagement and more support—

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

Mr Speaker, a point of order: we are well into the answer now with still nothing relevant to the Catholic Education Commission, which is what the question was specifically about.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question certainly had a reference to the Catholic education office, but it also had other aspects on education funding, so the minister is being relevant to the question. The minister has the call.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, we are focusing on those things that matter. We are focusing on the fact that it is important that local principals are able to make local decisions to benefit of local schools. Under our StudentsFirst policy, we are focusing on those elements that are going to improve educational outcome. Our funding is based on strong evidence, and we are committed to negotiating with the states and territories from 2018 onwards with regard to education outcomes, and we will also be negotiating with the non-government sector. Labor's plan is unfocused, it is unfunded and it simply has not been thought through—just more spending without understanding what works.

Labor really needs to go back to school regarding its three-page thought bubble. The document should really have been called 'Your child. Their debt'. Labor simply does not understand that future generations will be burdened by its irresponsible spending, with no regard for delivering outcomes.