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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jun/19/simon-birmingham-stares-down-internal-party-revolt-over-catholic-funding
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| Simon Birmingham stares down internal party revolt over Catholic funding | Simon Birmingham stares down internal party revolt over Catholic funding |
| (11 days later) | |
| The education minister, Simon Birmingham, is staring down an internal revolt from conservative MPs concerned about cuts to Catholic schools at the same time as trying to corral the Senate crossbench to support the Gonski 2.0 package. | The education minister, Simon Birmingham, is staring down an internal revolt from conservative MPs concerned about cuts to Catholic schools at the same time as trying to corral the Senate crossbench to support the Gonski 2.0 package. |
| Tensions inside the government have been stirred up by the publication of new modelling from the Department of Education which revealed that the Turnbull government schools package will cut $4.6bn from Catholic schools over a decade compared with current legislation, while public schools will gain $4bn. | Tensions inside the government have been stirred up by the publication of new modelling from the Department of Education which revealed that the Turnbull government schools package will cut $4.6bn from Catholic schools over a decade compared with current legislation, while public schools will gain $4bn. |
| The Catholic sector has released two new campaign videos highlighting the figures in an attempt to reopen internal debate in Tuesday’s Coalition party room meeting. | The Catholic sector has released two new campaign videos highlighting the figures in an attempt to reopen internal debate in Tuesday’s Coalition party room meeting. |
| On Monday Liberal MP Kevin Andrews and retiring Western Australian senator, Chris Back, both issued threats to sink the Gonski 2.0 schools package over concerns about its effect on Catholic schools. | On Monday Liberal MP Kevin Andrews and retiring Western Australian senator, Chris Back, both issued threats to sink the Gonski 2.0 schools package over concerns about its effect on Catholic schools. |
| Andrews told the Australian the modelling was “different from what we are told … and it backs the claims the Catholic sector is making”. | Andrews told the Australian the modelling was “different from what we are told … and it backs the claims the Catholic sector is making”. |
| He warned he would not sign off on any deal the government did with the Greens on school funding if it came back to the lower house, after the government reportedly offered large concessions including a new school resource body. | He warned he would not sign off on any deal the government did with the Greens on school funding if it came back to the lower house, after the government reportedly offered large concessions including a new school resource body. |
| “I think it would trigger difficulties because it’s contrary, if the report is true … to what was agreed to in the house and certainly much worse than what I expected,’’ Andrews said. | “I think it would trigger difficulties because it’s contrary, if the report is true … to what was agreed to in the house and certainly much worse than what I expected,’’ Andrews said. |
| Another government MP told Guardian Australia there was concern inside the government at perceptions the government was doing a deal with the Greens to boost funding for public schools while it was engaged in a public war of words with Catholic education. | Another government MP told Guardian Australia there was concern inside the government at perceptions the government was doing a deal with the Greens to boost funding for public schools while it was engaged in a public war of words with Catholic education. |
| But another conservative MP, Craig Kelly, said he wasn’t concerned about the Catholic education campaign. “I’m not overly excited by that, I just think we need to get the debate off money and back to how our kids are being taught”. | But another conservative MP, Craig Kelly, said he wasn’t concerned about the Catholic education campaign. “I’m not overly excited by that, I just think we need to get the debate off money and back to how our kids are being taught”. |
| “You’ll never be able to give schools as much as they want, so I think we should get it passed and refocus the debate.” | “You’ll never be able to give schools as much as they want, so I think we should get it passed and refocus the debate.” |
| The government has been negotiating with both the Greens and the Senate crossbench to secure passage of the schools funding package. | The government has been negotiating with both the Greens and the Senate crossbench to secure passage of the schools funding package. |
| The chances of passing Gonski 2.0 without Greens support have improved after One Nation whip, Brian Burston, announced its four senators would support the bill. | The chances of passing Gonski 2.0 without Greens support have improved after One Nation whip, Brian Burston, announced its four senators would support the bill. |
| The national Catholic Education Commission executive director, Christian Zahra, said that support within the government was fading just as time was running out for a vote. | The national Catholic Education Commission executive director, Christian Zahra, said that support within the government was fading just as time was running out for a vote. |
| “Parents and school communities are concerned about what this flawed model means for them – and new independent data released over the weekend shows that it means cuts to Catholic schools,” he said. | “Parents and school communities are concerned about what this flawed model means for them – and new independent data released over the weekend shows that it means cuts to Catholic schools,” he said. |
| Birmingham told ABC radio the Gonski 2.0 package increased Catholic schools’ funding from $6.3bn in 2017 to $9.7bn by 2027, an increase of $3.4bn. | Birmingham told ABC radio the Gonski 2.0 package increased Catholic schools’ funding from $6.3bn in 2017 to $9.7bn by 2027, an increase of $3.4bn. |
| “I appreciate that there are people who have had special deals that were in place in the past and they want to keep those special deals for the future that give them a financial advantage over others,” he said. | “I appreciate that there are people who have had special deals that were in place in the past and they want to keep those special deals for the future that give them a financial advantage over others,” he said. |
| “We don’t want to see special deals there.” | “We don’t want to see special deals there.” |
| Back told ABC AM he had a “strong legacy” of supporting Catholic schools and he had indicated to Birmingham he may vote against the bill “until I’m convinced that the proposals in place won’t disadvantage Catholic schools and independent schools”. | Back told ABC AM he had a “strong legacy” of supporting Catholic schools and he had indicated to Birmingham he may vote against the bill “until I’m convinced that the proposals in place won’t disadvantage Catholic schools and independent schools”. |
| Back wants Birmingham to extend the system weighted average, a premium on the Catholic schools’ funding, for an extra year and wants a review of the proposed model, which uses socioeconomic status to estimate how much funding schools should get. | Back wants Birmingham to extend the system weighted average, a premium on the Catholic schools’ funding, for an extra year and wants a review of the proposed model, which uses socioeconomic status to estimate how much funding schools should get. |
| At a press conference in Canberra, Birmingham said Back’s concerns were “small technical issues … around if and when SES calculations might be reviewed”. | At a press conference in Canberra, Birmingham said Back’s concerns were “small technical issues … around if and when SES calculations might be reviewed”. |
| “I’m confident we’ll have support within government ranks to deliver the needs-based funding that Australian schools deserve, to deliver consistency into the future across school systems.” | “I’m confident we’ll have support within government ranks to deliver the needs-based funding that Australian schools deserve, to deliver consistency into the future across school systems.” |
| On Monday the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, confirmed the government was willing to make concessions, including establishing an independent school resource body to oversee but not set school funding levels, adding a requirement that states increase their share of funding and speeding up delivery of funding from 10 years to as few as six. | On Monday the Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, confirmed the government was willing to make concessions, including establishing an independent school resource body to oversee but not set school funding levels, adding a requirement that states increase their share of funding and speeding up delivery of funding from 10 years to as few as six. |
| Asked on Sky News if the government package was better than previous arrangements, Di Natale said “in some areas it is an improvement” but did not state the Greens final position, stressing the importance of “getting the model right”. | Asked on Sky News if the government package was better than previous arrangements, Di Natale said “in some areas it is an improvement” but did not state the Greens final position, stressing the importance of “getting the model right”. |
| Despite the concessions won by the Greens, the Australian Education Union has dug in against the package – a development that will make it difficult, if not impossible, for the Greens to sign up. | Despite the concessions won by the Greens, the Australian Education Union has dug in against the package – a development that will make it difficult, if not impossible, for the Greens to sign up. |
| If the Greens oppose the package, the government will need 10 out of 12 crossbench senators to pass the Gonski 2.0 bill. | If the Greens oppose the package, the government will need 10 out of 12 crossbench senators to pass the Gonski 2.0 bill. |
| Derryn Hinch supports the package and on Monday One Nation whip, Brian Burston, added that his party did too. | Derryn Hinch supports the package and on Monday One Nation whip, Brian Burston, added that his party did too. |
| The Nick Xenophon Team has signalled it could support the bill with amendments and David Leyonhjelm is now open to it after discovering it could cut funding over 10 years compared with current legislation. | The Nick Xenophon Team has signalled it could support the bill with amendments and David Leyonhjelm is now open to it after discovering it could cut funding over 10 years compared with current legislation. |
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