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NEW REPORT SUPPORTS CLAIMS LABOR PLANS TO CUT FUNDING TO AT LEAST 127 INDEPENDENT AND CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

July 1, 2004 MIN 784/04

A report produced by the Lifelong Learning Network for the Australian Education Union (AEU), confirms the fears of parents with children in Independent and Catholic schools, that Mark Latham plans a massive attack on their schools.

The AEU backed report says that at least 122 Independent and Catholic schools are ‘over-resourced’ compared with state government schools - based solely on the fees they charge.

Mark Latham refuses to release his schools policy, however this AEU sponsored report is entirely consistent with the Labor Party’s public statements about its secret ‘hit-list’.

Labor’s policy is for “funding reductions for over-resourced schools.”

Mark Latham, Needs-based School Funding, 26 March 2004

As noted by the Australian Financial Review, Labor has named just some of the schools on its ‘hit-list’:

“(Labor) has previously singled out Cranbrook school, Sydney Grammar and Trinity Grammar in Sydney; Geelong Grammar and Scotch College in Victoria; Hale School and Bunbury Cathedral Grammar in Western Australia and Seymour College and St Peter’s College in Adelaide. “

 The Australian Financial Review, 27 March, 2004

Labor’s Education spokesperson Jenny Macklin has however confirmed that a large number of schools will lose funding if Labor has its way:

Reporter: Is it just a handful of schools such as Kings and Trinity that will be affected?
Macklin: It’s more than a handful because once you go into Melbourne as well as Sydney there’s many...

Jenny Macklin, Press Conference, 26 March, 2004

The fees that a school charges has been identified by Labor as the main criterion for determining which schools are considered to be over or under-resourced.

Macklin: Well as I was just mentioning, the number one issue is fees.

Jenny Macklin, Press Conference, 26 March, 2004

This is exactly the same issue identified by the AEU sponsored report produced by the Lifelong Learning Centre.

Based on the statements by Labor’s education spokesperson Jenny Macklin, at least 127 schools attended by 123,000 students can be identified on Labor’s ‘hit list’.

It is no surprise therefore that the AEU sponsored report comes up with the remarkably similar ‘hit-list’ of 122 schools attended by 117,000 students.

Many families make enormous sacrifices to send their children to Independent and Catholic schools, as they believe this is the education choice which best suits the needs of their children.

The Labor policy of cutting funds to an unspecified number of Independent and Catholic schools creates uncertainty for all non-government schools and stands in stark contrast to the policies of the Howard Government.

The Howard Government believes that every parent, having paid their taxes, deserves some support in the choice of school which they believe best suits the needs of their children.

The Howard Government also believes that it is important to provide financial certainty to schools and the families that attend them. For this reason, the Howard Government announced on 11 March the precise funding for every non-government school or school system for the next four years.

Labor could tell parents now how much funding will be cut to the school they send their children to – but is keeping the ‘hit lit’ secret.

“Labor will be releasing the full detail of our school funding scheme after the budget.”

Jenny Macklin, Sunday Age, 4 April, 2004

The budget was May 11. It is now July 1. Australia’s parents should expect the worst from Labor.

The list of the at least 127 schools facing cuts under Labor is attached:

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Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095

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