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Greens reportedly sign formal complaint against Lee Rhiannon over Gonski leaflet Greens reportedly sign formal complaint against Lee Rhiannon over Gonski leaflet
(about 3 hours later)
All nine of Greens senator Lee Rhiannon’s federal colleagues, including the leader, Richard Di Natale, have reportedly signed a formal complaint against the New South Wales senator.All nine of Greens senator Lee Rhiannon’s federal colleagues, including the leader, Richard Di Natale, have reportedly signed a formal complaint against the New South Wales senator.
Rhiannon rejected the allegations that she derailed the party’s negotiations over school funding and breached the faith of the party room.
Fairfax Media says the nine have sent the letter to the Greens national council, accusing Rhiannon of attempting to derail them over the Gonski schools funding negotiations after she distributed a leaflet against the deal.Fairfax Media says the nine have sent the letter to the Greens national council, accusing Rhiannon of attempting to derail them over the Gonski schools funding negotiations after she distributed a leaflet against the deal.
The material was dropped in letterboxes in Sydney’s inner west last week as the Turnbull government finalised its negotiations on the overhaul of school funding.The material was dropped in letterboxes in Sydney’s inner west last week as the Turnbull government finalised its negotiations on the overhaul of school funding.
“We were astounded that Senator Rhiannon was engaged with its production and distribution without informing [the] party room at a time when we were under enormous pressure from all sides as we considered our position on the [school funding] bill,” Fairfax quoted the letter as saying.“We were astounded that Senator Rhiannon was engaged with its production and distribution without informing [the] party room at a time when we were under enormous pressure from all sides as we considered our position on the [school funding] bill,” Fairfax quoted the letter as saying.
The senators said the material clearly had the potential to damage negotiations about securing “billions of dollars of additional funding for underfunded public schools”.The senators said the material clearly had the potential to damage negotiations about securing “billions of dollars of additional funding for underfunded public schools”.
Rhiannon said on Sunday, that at all times her actions on education had been faithful to Greens policy and process.
“My work did not impact on the Greens negotiations with the government,” she said in a statement.
“It was the Turnbull government’s decision to do a deal with the crossbench senators that killed off negotiations with the Greens. I had no role in that.”
The leaflets she authorised were a “good initiative” of Greens local groups and highlighted the negative impact the Turnbull government’s plan would have on their public schools, she said.
“I was proud to stand with branches of the Australian Education Union, particularly as the Turnbull school funding plan favoured private schools.”
A spokesman for Di Natale said the party room would meet “shortly” to discuss the matter.A spokesman for Di Natale said the party room would meet “shortly” to discuss the matter.
“We’re extremely disappointed that the letter was made public,” he said.“We’re extremely disappointed that the letter was made public,” he said.
The leaflet, a copy of which was posted on Twitter, urged residents to call senators and demand they “take a stand for public education”.The leaflet, a copy of which was posted on Twitter, urged residents to call senators and demand they “take a stand for public education”.
It broke down “proposed funding cuts” to local public schools and stated that the party remained committed to the full, original Gonski plan.It broke down “proposed funding cuts” to local public schools and stated that the party remained committed to the full, original Gonski plan.
The government threw an extra $5bn into the plan to win over the crossbench, taking the package to $23.5bn over the next decade.The government threw an extra $5bn into the plan to win over the crossbench, taking the package to $23.5bn over the next decade.
Labor and the Greens voted against the package but the government secured the 10 crucial crossbench votes needed to get its funding shake-up over the line.Labor and the Greens voted against the package but the government secured the 10 crucial crossbench votes needed to get its funding shake-up over the line.
The Gonski 2.0 package will ensure underfunded schools reach funding targets in six years instead of 10 – an amendment Labor and the Greens supported on Thursday night.The Gonski 2.0 package will ensure underfunded schools reach funding targets in six years instead of 10 – an amendment Labor and the Greens supported on Thursday night.