Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        The Hon Karen Andrews MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, second reading speech, 11 May 2017.

[2]        Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 4.

[3]        Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, media release, True needs-based funding for Australia's schools, 2 May 2017.

[4]        OECD 'Does Money Buy Strong Performance in PISA?', cited in Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 6.

[5]        Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 5.

[6]        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 1.

[7]        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 1.

[8]        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 1.

[9]        Ms Correna Haythorpe, Federal President, Australian Education Union, Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 47.

[10]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 6.

[11]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 6.

[12]      The Hon Karen Andrews MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, second reading speech, 11 May 2017.

[13]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 4.

[14]      Prime Minister the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Press conference with the Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Simon Birmingham and Mr David Gonski, 2 May 2017.

[15]      Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, media release, True needs-based funding for Australia's schools, 2 May 2017.

[16]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 4.

[17]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 4.

[18]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 4.

[19]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 4.

[20]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 8.

[21]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 8.

[22]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 8.

[23]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 9.

[24]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 9.

[25]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 10.

Chapter 2 - Background

[1]        Dr Ken Boston, What Gonski really meant, and how that’s been forgotten almost everywhere, Inside Story, 6 September 2016, http://insidestory.org.au/what-gonski-really-meant-and-how-thats-been-forgotten-almost-everywhere (accessed 13 June 2017).

[2]        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 5.

[3]        Council of Australia Governments (COAG), National Education Reform Agreement, 2013, p. 18.

[4]        Australian Education Act 2013, s. 34.

[5]        Australian Education Act 2013, s. 34.

[6]        Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 13.

[7]        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 5.

[8]        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, pp. 1–2.

[9]        Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 2.

[10]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 6.

[11]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 6

[12]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 14.

[13]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 6.

[14]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 2.

[15]      Ms Colette Colman, Executive Director, Independent Schools Council of Australia, Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 7.

[16]      Independent Schools Council of Australia, Submission 8, p. 18.

[17]      Dr Geoff Newcombe, Chief Executive, Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales, Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 7.

[18]      See for example Ms Colette Colman, Executive Director, Independent Schools Council of Australia, Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 7.

[19]      Independent Schools Council of Australia, Submission 8, p. 19.

[20]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 7.

[21]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 7.

[22]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 7.

[23]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 7.

[24]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 7.

[25]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 2.

[26]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, pp. 7–8.

[27]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 8.

Chapter 3 - Key issues

[1]        Mr David Gonski AC, Mr Ken Boston AO, Ms Kathryn Greiner AO, Ms Carmen Lawrence, Mr Bill Scales AO, and Mr Peter Tannock AM, Review of Funding for Schooling, Final Report, December 2011.

[2]        Grattan Institute, Submission 33, p. 2.

[3]        Mr Robert Nairn, Executive Director, Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA), Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 46.

[4]        Mr Phillip Spratt, President, Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO), Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 32.

[5]        ACSSO, Submission 13, p. 1.

[6]        Dr Geoff Newcombe, Chief Executive, Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AISNSW), Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 5.

[7]        Mr Angus Tulley, Principal, St Francis Xavier College, Catholic Secondary Principals Australia (CSPA), Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 49.

[8]        Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 7.

[9]        Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 7.

[10]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 7.

[11]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, pp. 7–8.

[12]      Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017, Explanatory Memorandum, p. 5.

[13]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 8. Indexation arrangements are discussed later in this chapter.

[14]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 8. In these examples 'CW funding' refers to Commonwealth Funding.

[15]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 8.

[16]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 10.

[17]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 10. Note that these proportions of Commonwealth funding to non-government schools differ from the overall transition figure which would result from the bill of 77 per cent in 2017. The former is calculated as total Commonwealth funding in 2017 as a percentage of the current SRS in 2017 base on settings in the current Act. The latter figure (77 per cent) differs because it involves a re-calculation of the base per student amounts, based on the original methodology but using the latest available data; uses new percentages for the Students with Disability loading based on the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data; has a modified capacity to contribute settings for non‑government primary students; and removes the system-weighted SES scores.

[18]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 10.

[19]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 10.

[20]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 10.

[21]      The Hon. Karen Andrews, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, second reading speech, 11 May 2017.

[22]      A further review into the low-socioeconomic loading within the SES was conducted in 2014. See Mr Tony Cook, Associate Secretary, Schools and Youth, Department of Education and Training, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 65.

[23]      Dr Stephen Farish, private capacity, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 2.

[24]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 11.

[25]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 11.

[26]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, pp. 11–12.

[27]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 14.

[28]      Mitchell Institute, Submission 45, p. 2. See also AISNSW, Submission 21, p. 7.

[29]      Adventist Schools Australia and Christian Schools Australia, Submission 6, p. 2.

[30]      Adventist Schools Australia and Christian Schools Australia, Submission 6, p. 2.

[31]      Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA), Submission 8, p. 24.

[32]      CIS, Submission 10, p. 16.

[33]      Dr Stephen Farish, private capacity, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 7.

[34]      Dr Paul Jelfs, General Manager, Population and Social Statistics Division, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 56.

[35]      Dr Stephen Farish, private capacity, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 7.

[36]      Mr Leonard Hain, Executive Director, Australian Council of Jewish Schools, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 17.

[37]      Mr David Gonski AC, Mr Ken Boston AO, Ms Kathryn Greiner AO, Ms Carmen Lawrence, Mr Bill Scales AO, and Mr Peter Tannock AM, Review of Funding for Schooling, Final Report, December 2011, p. xxi.

[38]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 13.

[39]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 13.

[40]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 13.

[41]      See for example Mr Mark Spencer, Executive Director, National Policy, Christian Schools Australia Limited, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 19. See also page 23.

[42]      Dr Peter Goss, School Education Program Director, Grattan Institute, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 16.

[43]      CIS, Submission 10, p. 4.

[44]      CIS, Submission 10, p. 4.

[45]      Mr Phillip Spratt, President, ACSSO, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 27.

[46]      CIS, Submission 10, p. 10.

[47]      See South Australian Government, Submission 26; West Australian Government, Submission 48; Victorian Government, Submission 47.

[48]      Australian Education Union (AEU) NSW Teachers Federation, Submission 4, p. 2.

[49]      AEU, Submission 36, p. 4.

[50]      ABC Fact Check, Fact check: Has the Government cut $22 billion from schools?, 5 June 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/factcheck/2017-06-05/fact-check-has-the-government-cut-22bn-from-schools/8526768, (accessed 13 June 2017). 

[51]      Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, media release, True needs-based funding for Australia's schools, 2 May 2017. 

[52]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 17.

[53]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 18.

[54]      Mr Tony Cook, Associate Secretary, Schools and Youth, Department of Education and Training, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 55.

[55]      Mr Phillip Spratt, President, ACSSO, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 27.

[56]      See discussion with Mr Phillip Spratt, President, ACSSO, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, pp. 27–40.

[57]      Mr Tony Cook, Associate Secretary, Schools and Youth, Department of Education and Training, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 55.

[58]      See for example Mrs Karen Spiller, National Chair, Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 40.

[59]      AHISA, Submission 12, p. 3.

[60]      Ms Colette Colman, Executive Director, ISCA, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 1.

[61]      Ms Colette Colman, Executive Director, ISCA, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 1.

[62]      Ms Colette Colman, Executive Director, ISCA, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 2.

[63]      Dr Geoff Newcombe, Chief Executive, AISNSW, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 13.

[64]      Mr David Robertson, Executive Director, Independent Schools Queensland, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 14.

[65]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 17.

[66]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 18.

[67]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 18.

[68]      The Hon Karen Andrews, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, second reading speech, 11 May 2017.

[69]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 19, see Figure 12.

[70]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 19.

[71]      Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, Estimates Committee Hansard, 1 June 2017, p. 121.   

[72]      Mr Tony Cook, Department of Education, Estimates Committee Hansard, 1 June 2017, p. 121.  

[73]      Mr Tony Cook, Department of Education, Estimates Committee Hansard, 1 June 2017, p. 121.  

[74]      Northern Territory Department of Education, Submission 44, p. 2.

[75]      Northern Territory Department of Education, Submission 44, pp. 2–3.

[76]      Mr Tony Cook, Associate Secretary, Schools and Youth, Department of Education and Training, Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 120.

[77]      Ms Colette Colman, Executive Director, ISCA, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 15.

[78]      ISCA, Submission 8, p. 13.

[79]      Mr Tony Cook, Associate Secretary, Schools and Youth, Department of Education and Training, Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 72.

[80]      Mr Matthew Johnson, Vice President, Australian Special Education Principals Association (ASEPA), Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 42.

[81]      Mr Matthew Johnson, Vice President, ASEPA, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 42.

[82]      Ms Colette Colman, Executive Director, ISCA, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 2.

[83]      Dr Geoff Newcombe, Chief Executive, AISNSW, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 10.

[84]      Dr Geoff Newcombe, Chief Executive, AISNSW, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 14.

[85]      Association of Independent Schools of the ACT (AISACT), Submission 38, p. 4.

[86]      Mr Tony Cook, Associate Secretary, Schools and Youth, Department of Education and Training, Proof Committee Hansard, 5 June 2017, p. 55.

[87]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 7.

[88]      Department of Education and Training, Submission 23, p. 20.

[89]      CIS, Submission 10, p. 18.

[90]      Ms Correna Haythorpe, Federal President, AEU, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 42.

[91]      See proposed section 59, Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017.

[92]      Mr David Gonski AC, Mr Ken Boston AO, Ms Kathryn Greiner AO, Ms Carmen Lawrence, Mr Bill Scales AO, and Mr Peter Tannock AM, Review of Funding for Schooling, Final Report, December 2011, p. xviii.

[93]      Grattan Institute, Submission 33, p. 3.

[94]      Grattan Institute, Submission 33, p. 16.

[95]      Save our Schools, Submission 40, p. 3.

[96]      ACSSO, Submission 13, p. 3.

[97]      Explanatory Memorandum, pp. 7 and 16.

[98]      ACSSO, Submission 13, p. 2.

[99]      Australian Association of Christian Schools, Submission 18, p. 4.

[100]    AISNSW, Submission 21, pp. 6, 10.

[101]    Department of Education and Training, New fairer school funding from 2018, https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/new_fairer_school_funding_2018.pdf.

Labor Senators’ Dissenting Report

[1]        Australian Education Act 2013, preamble.

[2]        Key funding figures and qualifiers – 30 April agreed costs, Tabled Document, 11 May 2017.

[3]        Press Conference on 31 May 2017.

[4]        South Australian Government, Submission 26, p. 2.

[5]        Victorian Government, Submission 47, p. 1.

[6]        Ms Haythorpe, Australian Education Union President, testimony to the committee 2 June 2017.

[7]        Letter received 9 June 2017.

[8]        Review of Funding for Schooling, Gonski, D. et al, p. xiv.

[9]        Independent Education Union, Submission 2, p. 2.

[10]      Review of Funding for Schooling, Gonski, D. et al, p. xv.

[11]      Australian Education Union, Submission 36, p. 7.

[12]      Correna Haythorpe, President AEU, testimony to the Committee, 2 June 2017.

[13]      Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Training Press Release, 2 May 2017.

[14]      Australian Education Union, Submission 36, p. 5. Analysis drawn from Employment, Education and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee, answer to question on notice SQ16-000852, 2016.

[15]      Department of Education and Training Question No. SQ17-SY066

[16]      NSW Teachers’ Federation, p. 2.

[17]      Ms Correna Haythorpe, Federal President, Australian Education Union, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 42.

[18]      Ms Correna Haythorpe, Federal President, Australian Education Union, Proof Committee Hansard, 2 June 2017, p. 42.

[19]      Grattan Institute, Submission 33, p. 2.

[20]      AGGPA, Submission 35, p. 6; APPA, Submission 32, p. 4.

[21]      ASPA, Submission 16, p. 4.

[22]      National Education Reform Agreement 2013, p. 23.

[23]      National Education Reform Agreement 2013, paragraph 109, p. 23.

[24]      National Catholic Education Commission Submission, p.2.

[25]      Submission from The Grattan Institute, p.19.

[26]      Committee Hearings, 5 June 2017, p.43.

[27]      Australian Education Union, Submission 36, p. 9.

[28]      Children and Young people with Disabilities Australia – testimony

[29]      CYDA Submission, p. 7.

[30]      National Education Reform Agreement, p. 6.

Dissenting Report from the Australian Greens

[1]        Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, Estimates Committee Hansard, 1 June 2017, p. 71.