Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Collins for her answer on behalf of the government. A media report going back almost three years, Michael Bachelard article—and I understand there have been similar, more recent articles—states:

Federal school funding documents show that the Brethren’s multi-campus NSW school, Meadowbank, and the South Australian school, Melrose Park, were funded at the same rate as “special schools”, giving them the same per-student funding as Nyangatjatjara College, in the Northern Territory, the Giant Steps school for autistic students and schools for the hearing-impaired.

The allegation has been made that the Exclusive Brethren’s MET School at Meadowbank does not meet the criteria for category 12 funding. It is in suburban Sydney, it has small class sizes and is financially supported by a community that boasts it has no poverty. I think it is extraordinary that a school for autistic students is getting the same level of taxpayer funded assistance as a school with a community which seems to be in a much better financial position—in fact, they boast that they have no poverty and I pay tribute to the Exclusive Brethren for that.

If I could refer the minister to a very good report, dated November 2010, of the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee and, in particular, to the recommendation of government senators:

Government senators recommend that in the interests of transparency, accountability and facilitating meaningful comparisons, the My School website capture full disclosure of financial assets. Those schools who do not agree to this requirement should not receive public funding.

Can Senator Collins indicate what the government’s position is in relation to that? Will it be on the agenda down the track as a result of the Gonski review?