Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The former Prime Minister, the member for Warringah, cut $30 billion from schools in the unfair 2014 budget. Why is this Prime Minister continuing with the $30 billion cut to schools at the same time that he is giving a $50 billion tax cut to big business?

Mr Ramsey interjecting—

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

The member for Grey will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. The government is providing record levels of funding for schools—nearly $74 billion over the next four years, from $16 billion in 2016 to $20.1 billion in 2020. The real issue with respect to schools that all honourable members should be concerned about and that the government is extremely focused on is that despite the record levels of investment—nearly 50 per cent over the last decade—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

recent results show that we are not getting the outcomes that we should expect. We are focused on ensuring that as well as providing increasing levels of funding to schools we improve the performance in schools. That means getting better results—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon is warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

supporting quality education, supporting teachers—ensuring we have the best teachers getting the right backing. All of our policies are doing that. The suggestion that schools funding has been cut is yet another Labor exercise in misinformation.