Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

With the Senate's indulgence, I would like to take a brief moment to respond to the points that Senator Back has made. We have listened to those respectfully, even though we are on the amendments in relation to the student resourcing body, and my intention is to move fairly quickly beyond those after I respond to these issues.

Senator Back, no-one doubts your good faith on this issue. It takes me back to the legislation inquiry—you might have been on the phone at the time—when one of the witnesses, who had earlier on been verballed by the minister, was retreating to the position about how wickedly complex this bill and school funding are. Certainly, you are not an unintelligent person, Senator Back, but I think you did understand the points that I made yesterday. I think it is fairly clear for anyone who understands school funding—and, indeed, someone like Dr Tannock—that what the minister has provided you with is not, as I said yesterday, the full monty. If you are keen to ensure that the full circumstances for the funding of Catholic primary schools is maintained, then you will support our amendment, which will come along later, to preserve the existing capacity-to-contribute arrangements.

Senator Back, you were not in the chamber earlier today when I was asking the minister to provide figures that would highlight the difference between the $50 million figure—I think it was about $46 million; I do not have the notes in front of me anymore—as compared to the system weighted average arrangements under the existing bill.