Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the motion passed by the NSW Nationals' Annual General Conference calling on the Federal Government to honour the 6 year Gonski funding agreement between the Commonwealth and Government;

(b) acknowledges rural schools will continue to be significantly disadvantaged as a result of the Abbott Government's decision to fund only the first 4 years of this agreement; and

(c) supports the NSW Nationals' courage in standing up to the Federal Government in the interest of their communities.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under the New South Wales National Party's constitution, motions that are passed through state conference are not binding on the parliamentary team. However, an explanation must be given to the person or persons moving the motion on why it is not adopted as a compulsory policy position. The National Party supports totally the government's election promise and subsequent action to provide school funding for the next four years. We note the government exceeded its commitment by restoring $1.2 billion in funding taken out by Labor. The budget needs to be brought back to order. The National Party understands that and it is a National Party priority. We do not need to mortgage our children's future. The debt building must stop and the budget must be returned to balance. The supposed $30 billion cut from the funding being portrayed by the opposition is totally untrue. ABC Fact Check proved opposition shadow minister Kate Ellis's assertions to be hot air. The Nationals will support the four-year funding, as in the budget forecast.

Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am greatly disappointed that the national representatives of the National Party in the Senate are not prepared to support this motion because it is, in fact, calling on the Senate to note the very interesting motion that was passed by the New South Wales Nationals' annual general conference calling on the federal government to honour the six-year Gonski funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the New South Wales government. That was certainly an agreement that was supported by the New South Wales Nationals education minister at the time, Mr Piccoli, because it is very clear from the Gonski review that rural and country schools in particular are disadvantaged by our current funding system and that there is a big gap between the achievements of rural students and those in urban areas, that funding over a period of six years is certainly needed and that if that funding is not forthcoming then those sorts of students in those areas will suffer significant disadvantage. So we support the New South Wales Nationals' courage and we would have thought that their national colleagues would have done so too.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Wright be agreed to.