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LABOR MP CONFIRMS THAT JEWISH SCHOOLS WILL LOSE FUNDING UNDER A LATHAM GOVERNMENT

August 31, 2004 MIN 904/04

The Australian newspaper has today reported that Labor Member for Melbourne Ports, Michael Danby, has told the Jewish community that funding for Jewish schools could not be guaranteed if a Latham Government were elected.

Speaking at a local candidates’ forum, Mr Danby said that he could not yet guarantee that no school would lose funding:

“I can’t guarantee that at this stage because the policy hasn’t been announced.”

Michael Danby MP, The Australian newspaper, 31/8/2004

On March 3, 2004 Mr Danby tried vainly to defend Labor’s funding policy for Jewish, Catholic and Independent schools when he told Parliament that his electorate has many Jewish schools;

“I have visited most of the schools in my electorate, many times...the Minister went on to imply that the Opposition’s education policy will result in government funds being taken away. I am sure that the Minister knew that this insinuation was untrue...”

Michael Danby, Hansard, April 3, 2004

Mr Danby’s assurances have amounted to nothing and have now been exposed by his confirmation of Labor’s plan to strip funding from Jewish schools and allow their school fees to increase.

His leader Mark Latham must now front up to the parents of almost 10,000 students in 19 Jewish schools across Australia, and explain why he thinks they are unworthy of support for the education of their children.

Labor’s Education spokesperson Jenny Macklin has already said that the heart of Labor’s secret schools policy is funding cuts to schools based on the fees they charge parents.

“Labor will be reducing funding to The Kings School and other schools like that... The fact that parents are paying $15, $16, $17,000 dollars a year in fees should be taken into account when we assess the needs of a school.”

Jenny Macklin, ABC AM, August 12, 2004

Notably Mark Latham’s secret plan therefore includes cutting funds and forcing up fees at Mount Scopus Memorial College in Melbourne Ports, which charges fees higher than The Kings School.

Labor has previously named just a small number of the schools on its secret ‘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

The Bunbury Cathedral Grammar school in Western Australia charges fees of $9,112 a year – therefore any school which charges fees of $9,112 or more can reasonably be presumed to be in Labor’s sights.

Labor’s Education spokesperson Jenny Macklin in fact confirmed Labor will force fees up at a very large number of schools - particularly targeting Sydney and Melbourne.

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

At least 127 schools attended by 123,000 students can be identified on Labor’s secret ‘hit list’.

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

Any increase in fees as Labor cuts funding will force many children out of those schools. Labor’s plan is a policy of punishment.

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

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Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663

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