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

There has been strong support. A good example of that comes from Tasmania. There is a national body, the Australian Council of State School Organisations, representing parents of government school systems across the country. Their president, Mr Phillip Spratt, who is based in Tasmania, has described the Turnbull government's reforms as 'deeply gratifying' because, as he acknowledged, they are addressing peculiar advantages and providing for everybody on a consistent, fair, needs based platform.

Of course, today we see news that even a former president of the Australian Education Union, Dianne Foggo, has come out urging the Labor Party and the education union to back the Turnbull government's reforms. That is right: there is a split in the education union ranks because, of course, finally people there are realising that the best thing for public education and the neediest schools in Australia is to ensure that the Turnbull government's reforms pass, to give the best additional support to the schools who need it most, particularly those in public education systems. (Time expired)