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

I know there's been some particular commentary around Catholic schools funding, and I want to make sure that the facts are clear and reassurance is provided that in New South Wales funding for the Catholic education system will grow by an average of some 4.1 per cent on a per student basis over the next few years. This will see, over the course of the next decade, total funding grow by some 50 per cent. That's up from a previous estimate of 47.8 per cent. Funding for New South Wales Catholic sector will now be some $24.3 billion over the next decade, a further increase of $163 million compared with the previous estimates as recently as June. In per student terms, the Catholic sector in New South Wales will remain the highest funded sector of all with, ultimately, funding growing from $8,700 this year to some $12,700 per student by 2027.