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

The coalition wants to make clear, as I did yesterday in response to some of the questions from Senator Back, our respect for Catholic education in Australia. I want to put that up front given the exchange and the discussion that we have just had. We recognise the value that Catholic education systems around the country have in the provision of high-quality education in a range of different environments, including environments of particular social disadvantage.

There have been times in this debate when we have had questions about some of the places in Australia—regional areas, Indigenous areas—where Catholic education is the only education opportunity that students have. Of course, in those circumstances they receive full fee funding under the government's funding model, as is appropriate, recognising that the schools provide public service in that regard that is not available from government systems.

Indeed, as Senator Collins rightly reflects, there is a very long history in relation to Catholic education in Australia and a proud history on this side of the chamber, adopted by those on the other side, of support for Catholic education that is extended into support for non-government education of a variety of faith based and, nowadays, also non-faith-based persuasions outside the government school systems that empower parental choice right around Australia. We want to make sure that parental choice continues to be available, which is why we have clearly maintained the support for non-government education of all persuasions under these reforms. But we have done it in a way that seeks to ensure consistency in the way they are applied across all of the different non-government education systems, sectors and authorities such that they are all treated in an equitable manner based on their need and the relative capacity and means of their school communities.

Senator Collins challenged the notion of whether there is a growing share for Catholic education. I am very pleased to point out that across each state the share of the schooling resource standard will grow for Catholic education systems as it does for many other non-government bodies and as it does, of course, for state and territory government bodies. In New South Wales that will grow from 78 per cent of the schooling resource standard to 80 per cent by 2023 as this bill has been amended. In Victoria it will grow from 79.8 per cent to 80 per cent, in Queensland from 79 per cent to 80 per cent, in South Australia from 77.7 per cent to 80 per cent, in Western Australia from 76.1 per cent to 80 per cent and in Tasmania from 73.7 per cent to 80 per cent. We have acknowledged particular circumstances in the ACT, but in the Northern Territory it will also grow from 64.5 per cent to 80 per cent. So there is growth in terms of the share of the schooling resource standard that Catholic education systems will receive, as will many other non-government-approved authorities, as of course do virtually all of the states and territories see growth to reach their 20 per cent target by 2023 under the amended bill.

There have also been suggestions made that somehow funding is reducing to Catholic education. I have told this chamber many times and stressed publicly as well that of course there is significant growth in funding for Catholic education systems just as there is, again, across government and independent education systems. In relation to Catholic education systems, that funding growth is from $6.3 billion in 2017—and I know senators have heard that figure before. Strangely, Senator Collins challenged what it is that Catholic systems receive in 2017. I will not go through that for each system, because we have done that before, but it is $6.3 billion in aggregate, growing to $9.7 billion by 2027—clear growth over that trajectory. And the amendments that have been put in place to bring forward the reaching of the 80 per cent schooling resource standard share will see faster growth in the earlier years for Catholic education systems as for others who are below that 80 per cent target.

I also note that in terms of ongoing support for Catholic education systems, they will continue to receive, on average, the highest level of per student funding across the country. That is reflective of some of those circumstances of need that Senator Collins spoke of and that I acknowledged at the outset. Across non-government systems and schools, Catholic education does service more communities of lower means, lower capacity and higher need. At the end of the transition period, as is the case today, Catholic education systems will receive, on average and on a per student basis, significantly more than other non-government education systems or schools receive. In fact, that comparison today is some $8,800 per student in Catholic systems and approximately $7,200 per student in the independent school systems. By 2027, with full implementation of these reforms, it will be some $12,500, approximately, per student in the Catholic systems and approximately $10,800 per student across the independent systems, with them all being treated—as I have said time and again—according to the same needs based funding arrangement.

I also stress respect for the autonomy of the systems. That is a discussion we had earlier in this debate and last night, putting in place measures within the act that clearly define the autonomy and freedom of the systems to operate their own needs based funding arrangements.

Finally, I do acknowledge, as was indicated before, the review of the SES arrangements that we have already committed to. These are to address some of the issues around capacity to contribute and otherwise that this amendments put in place. We have made some funding commitments specific to next year. It is very important to make sure that we give that certainty, but that we then also have a proper process that will now be in place to undertake such a review of SES into the future. I do not accept the propositions put by Senator Collins about the disadvantage to Catholic education; I have outlined very clearly why there is a strong advantage.

The CHAIR: The amendment is broken into two questions. The first question is that amendments (13) and (14) on sheet 8155 be agreed to.