Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hughes very much for her question. Of course, I know this brings together issues very important and dear to your heart in terms of support for rural and regional Australian communities and, of course, support for all Australian schoolchildren to be able to access a quality education. The Morrison government firmly believes that every Australian child, no matter where they live and no matter their circumstances, should have access to a world-class education be that early education, school education or tertiary education. That's why we continue to provide record funding for early childhood education and child care, some $8.6 billion this year growing through to $9.9 billion by 2021-22. It's why we're providing record funding for Australian schools, some $310 billion over the next 10 years, an increase of 62 per cent per student. And it's why we're providing record funding for Australian universities, some $17.7 billion in this year alone.

We know that in these difficult times of drought Australian communities stand together and support one another, Australian schools lend a hand and support one another and, as a government, we stand firmly in support of those communities and those schools as well. It's why we've worked to provide additional special circumstances funding in a number of targeted ways over the course of this year. It's by initially providing some $4 million in special circumstances funding particularly for schools affected by floods in north Queensland, but earlier this month now extending that, providing $10 million in special circumstances funding to support schools facing financial hardship as a result of the ongoing drought conditions affecting much of Australia—and particularly much of New South Wales where you come from, Senator Hughes. This is important support for schools, for the families and for those students in terms of providing additional practical assistance that complements the types of drought measures that Senator McKenzie was outlining to the chamber earlier and is all part of the comprehensive approach our government is taking to responding to the drought.