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

My question is to the Treasurer. Yesterday, the Minister for Education and Training said the government's school funding from 2018 is 'indicative only'. On the same day, the Minister for Finance said:

The formula that we've put into the trajectory beyond 2018 is ... the number that is currently reflected in the budget and that reflects the Government's policy position.

Treasurer, who is right?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. In case he missed it, I will run through it. In 2015-16, the schools funding is $15.7 billion. The next year it goes up by 8.1 per cent to $17 billion. The next year it goes up by six per cent to $18 billion. The year after that it goes up by four per cent to $18.7 billion. So every single year, this government is increasing funding to public schools and schools in this country. That is what we are doing, and we are doing that at the same time as I read out the increases in the expenditure that we are putting into schools. Expenditure, as a share of GDP in this country, is falling from 25.9 per cent to 25.3 per cent.

I make that point for this very critical reason: we are funding these increases by savings in the budget—by actually reducing expenditure and having priorities that ensure that we can fund these very things. That is not the approach of those opposite. If those opposite had come and said, 'Here are the savings that we're going to make to fund increases in other areas,' that would be a different issue.

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Ms Butler interjecting—

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

The member for Griffith and the Leader of the House will cease interjecting.

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The Treasurer is now well into his answer.

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

The point of order?

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

The point of order is that he was specifically asked about the contradiction between two cabinet ministers. He has not dealt with that at all. I would ask you to require him to be directly relevant to the question.

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

The Treasurer is being relevant to the subject of the question, but he will now bring himself to the specific question that was asked with respect to the quotes from both ministers.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have been very clear about what the funding commitments are for the government in the budget and the forward estimates as they are set out in those documents. I am surprised that the member opposite is not aware of that. The point I am making is: we are supporting the increases in funding for public schools and education in this country by getting control of government expenditure in other areas so we can afford it. Those opposite do not have such a plan.

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

Has the Treasurer concluded his answer? The Treasurer has concluded his answer. The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.