Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I certainly can and I am very pleased to say that support for the Turnbull government's reforms continues to grow. From the very first day upon which the Prime Minister and I announced the reforms—supported and endorsed by David Gonski himself—we have seen growing support, right through to today, when another member of the Gonski panel, Dr Ken Boston, has voiced his public support for the reforms. Dr Boston was very clear when he said:

There are no grounds for opposition to the schools funding bill in principle, and every reason to work collaboratively towards its successful implementation and further refinement in the years ahead.

Dr Boston went on and said:

For the first time, the available funding would be distributed on a sector-blind needs-based principle, using a common assessment tool for individual schools nationally.

This is a strong endorsement from the people who wrote the Gonski report for the Turnbull government's implementation of the Gonski report, and it is a tragedy that those opposite are not heeding it.