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Article Malcolm Turnbull wants to wipe his hands of public education funding

By Tracy Hardy
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Malcolm Turnbull today suggested the Federal Government abandon  public education funding as an extension of his proposal to give up income taxing powers to the states.

News.com.au reports, the Prime Minister said there was “a very powerful case” for giving state governments total responsibility for payments to state schools from income tax revenue, while the Commonwealth funded private education, such as Catholic schools.

“They would then have the responsibility for state schools, which are the schools that they manage, they have the resources as well,” he said on ABC radio.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused Mr Turnbull of not being fit to be Prime Minister.

“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable that Mr Turnbull is so willing to wash his hands of ensuring Australian kids get a decent education,” Mr Shorten said.

“Every Australian child should have the same chance of succeeding at school as any other child kid in the country, no matter their background, no matter where they live, and no matter what type of school they go to — government, independent or Catholic.”

“You could make a very powerful case for example that, if there was a revenue sharing, if the states had access to a portion of income tax, that they would have the resources and the money [to] have the responsibility for state schools,” Mr Turnbull said today.

“I suspect no federal government would retreat from funding and continuing to support the non-government school sector because there would be a concern that they would not get a fair go from state governments, who obviously would have a competing interest with their schools.

“But in terms of state schools, state education, government schools, if the states had the money, if they had the money from a share of the tax base, would they not do a better job managing those schools themselves?

“That would be a question to ask the education ministers: does the education minister in Canberra know better how to run a primary school in Tasmania or South Australia or Western Australia than the education minister in those states?”

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  • nah nah nah…..not good to hear. Depriving kids of the right of a decent education.

    Reply

  • The sad part is BOTH parties are not worth leading our country at the moment!

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  • proper education of our children is so important…why would you cut funding for schools…this is a stupid idea 🙁

    Reply

  • Appalling. There needs to be a massive increase in federal funding to public schools. No public funds should be given to private schools.

    Reply

  • This is a very bad idea.

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  • It’s just a different funding model – not a reduced funding model.

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  • Its such an odd thing for a leader to say.
    Do we really want to reduce funding to schools? Thats a great way to have Australia falling behind in the World.

    • We need to keep up and stay ahead in the world. Education is vitally important and develops self confidence and so many other positive outcomes for individuals, communities and countries.

    Reply

  • He’s just as much of an idiot as the last one. Is there no one decent out there to run our country 🙁

    Reply

  • Education and funding is so important for our children and the future of our country.

    Reply

  • A strange view for our Prime Minister about public schools. Evert child should be entitled to a good education no matter their family circumstances. I know from my own experiences long ago. Born into poor English family sent to mediocre church school that taught very basic,those were the days way back then. I left school and at 15 got a job, that was what you did.Throughout my life time done many courses and got into uni as mature age student,worked and continued learning because I had and still do have need to know things.Been tested many times and credited with above average intelligence, but I never believed it till now at 70 realise I am bright,intelligent,interesting and in poor situation because my skills never recognised byself or others. Do not want this to happen to other children who are passed over in favour for richer parented children who may not be as intelligent as the poor kid down the road! Education should be avaiable t all and if child unaware of there skills they should be cultivated if there! Education should be free and available to all in Australia, not only to the rich. We are not in dark ages now or are we. Mr Turnbull think you are backing away from our children and Australia’s future. But then who am I? not anyone in particular but maybe I could have been…. my views are my own and know I am speaking a truth, that has it seems, been forgotton

    Reply
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