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

I just outlined for the senator how it is that Tasmanian government schools receive increased funding. What is remarkable is that all of these Labor senators come into this place and want to vote down a package, the result of which, if they were successful in defeating this, would be that many government systems around the country would actually receive less funding in the future. These people come in here with the hypocrisy ringing around, arguing as they do, trying to play the class-warfare arguments that they do, playing off one school versus another school, when what is clearly recognised in the public debate, what is clearly recognised by the experts, what has been clearly recognised by David Gonski and review panel members Ken Boston and Kathryn Greiner, is that the Turnbull government is applying fairly, consistently, the needs based funding formula for the future that will ensure there is appropriate support in all schools, hold states and territories accountable as well and deliver the support our children deserve. (Time expired)