Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to ensure that my constituents in the electorate of Hughes are not hoodwinked by the deceptive claims of cuts to school funding. The fact is, if we compare this year to next year, my electorate will enjoy an additional $4,164,800 in funding.

I will quickly go through some of the schools and the additional funding that they will receive next year as compared to this year: St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, $228,600 extra; Shire Christian School, $142,700 extra; St John Bosco College, $248,800 extra; Heathcote Public School, $33,800 extra; Yarrawarrah Public School, $31,600 extra; Engadine West Public School, $84,800 extra; Como West Public School, $40,800 extra; Grays Point Public School, $43,200 extra; Holy Family Catholic Primary School, $190,700 extra; Menai High School, $166,700 extra; Bundeena Public School, $23,400 extra; Holsworthy Public School, $75,300 extra; Loftus Public School, $47,200 extra. I could go on and on. Every school gets more in my electorate.

I call on members of the opposition not to go around telling untruths that there are cuts to schools in your electorate where no cuts exist. Do not frighten the children, do not mislead the teachers or—(Time expired)

Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the member for Hughes, happy Public Education Day, Sir! Welcome to the public educators today that join us in the federal parliament. This morning, I had breakfast with public educators from across this country. They are people that I am incredibly proud of. I was once in their ranks. I know how hard they work. I want to give a shout out to every public school teacher in this country—those who do the heavy lifting, those who prepare our most disadvantaged children across this country for a future. I want to assure them that on this side of the parliament we support their work. We value the efforts they make, we value their professionalism, we value the work they do for our children.

Public education is the foundation of education in this country. It is on their heavy lifting that this country relies—for the future for these children, for our social cohesion, for our prosperity. I want those opposite to explain it to the teachers and the principals who are here today who have said to me this morning, 'How, Joanne, am I going to explain to parents? How am I going to explain to parents why their children cannot get the same intervention programs next year as they got this year?'

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Ms Ryan interjecting—

Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Lalor's time is up. It is Public Education Day. She will be in the naughty corner very soon!