Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

I can't support this disallowance motion either. Capital funding under the Australian Education Act is provided to block grant authorities, something that's been happening since 2014. Those authorities disperse money to either Catholic schools or independent schools, but the umbrella of independent schools doesn't just cover private schools for wealthy families. It includes independent schools, special assistance schools and schools for Indigenous students. In Tassie, these include Giant Steps Tasmania, an independent special school in Deloraine for children on the autism spectrum. There are also indie schools in Burnie, Devonport and Glenorchy. Indie schools are alternative kinds of schools for kids who don't learn best in traditional learning environments. They fill a really important gap in our education system, and I think they're amazing. I wish my son had had a chance to go to an indie school program when he was in high school.

I get what the Greens are trying to do here. They're trying to make sure private schools with rich kids aren't better off than public schools. It's something I agree with; education should be as equitable as possible. But this isn't the way to do it, I'm sorry. This would also punish those schools that are applying for grants to look after the most vulnerable kids in the community, the kids that require special care.

The problem I have with the grants is that, for the last four years at least, Giant Steps Tasmania and the special assistance schools that help our most vulnerable students have not received any of this funding. Maybe they didn't apply. If they didn't, my message to them would be to give it a go. I don't think cashed-up private schools need to be given more taxpayer money, but I don't think we should deny independent schools like Giant Steps Tasmania the chance to get a piece of the pie either. That's why I won't be supporting this disallowance motion.