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Labor set to oppose school chaplaincy revival if religious links remain Labor set to oppose school chaplaincy revival if religious links remain
(35 minutes later)
Bill Shorten has signalled Labor will oppose the Abbott government’s efforts to revive the national school chaplaincy scheme if the Coalition insists on a condition the workers be affiliated with religious organisations.Bill Shorten has signalled Labor will oppose the Abbott government’s efforts to revive the national school chaplaincy scheme if the Coalition insists on a condition the workers be affiliated with religious organisations.
The opposition leader said the attempt to “micromanage” schools was an example of the government’s “wrong priorities” – contradicting assertions by the environment minister, Greg Hunt, that the scheme had bipartisan support.The opposition leader said the attempt to “micromanage” schools was an example of the government’s “wrong priorities” – contradicting assertions by the environment minister, Greg Hunt, that the scheme had bipartisan support.
The government is looking for ways to maintain the chaplaincy program after the high court upheld a legal challenge against the scheme’s funding arrangements on Thursday.The government is looking for ways to maintain the chaplaincy program after the high court upheld a legal challenge against the scheme’s funding arrangements on Thursday.
A leading constitutional expert, Professor Anne Twomey, said the ruling left the federal government with one option to keep funding chaplaincy services: giving tied grants to the states and territories, rather than directly to providers such as Scripture Union Queensland.A leading constitutional expert, Professor Anne Twomey, said the ruling left the federal government with one option to keep funding chaplaincy services: giving tied grants to the states and territories, rather than directly to providers such as Scripture Union Queensland.
It is not yet clear whether the government will seek to introduce legislation to give effect to such arrangements, but the Coalition could attempt to impose conditions on the grants to the states and territories.It is not yet clear whether the government will seek to introduce legislation to give effect to such arrangements, but the Coalition could attempt to impose conditions on the grants to the states and territories.
The former Labor government previously extended funding for the chaplaincy program but allowed schools the option of appointing secular welfare officers under the scheme.The former Labor government previously extended funding for the chaplaincy program but allowed schools the option of appointing secular welfare officers under the scheme.
The Coalition government allocated an extra $245m in last month’s budget to extend the program after this year and also decided to remove the option for schools to appoint a non-religious welfare worker.The Coalition government allocated an extra $245m in last month’s budget to extend the program after this year and also decided to remove the option for schools to appoint a non-religious welfare worker.
Shorten said Labor had supported a chaplaincy scheme “which would see trained welfare professionals being there to back up the work of our teachers to make sure our children are doing well”.Shorten said Labor had supported a chaplaincy scheme “which would see trained welfare professionals being there to back up the work of our teachers to make sure our children are doing well”.
“Labor most certainly does not support restricting chaplains to just religious organisations,” Shorten said on a visit to a Canberra school on Monday.“Labor most certainly does not support restricting chaplains to just religious organisations,” Shorten said on a visit to a Canberra school on Monday.
“We think this is taking the education system down the wrong track.”“We think this is taking the education system down the wrong track.”
Shorten said the government’s decision to walk away from the Gonski review-inspired reforms after four years equated to billions of dollars for schools.Shorten said the government’s decision to walk away from the Gonski review-inspired reforms after four years equated to billions of dollars for schools.
“But suddenly when it comes to school chaplains, this government is micromanaging the conduct and welfare in every school in Australia,” he said.“But suddenly when it comes to school chaplains, this government is micromanaging the conduct and welfare in every school in Australia,” he said.
“This government is making the wrong choices and the wrong priorities. You're better off funding our schools properly, making sure that our kids get the right start in life, making sure our teachers are backed up, rather than having some debate about school chaplains.”“This government is making the wrong choices and the wrong priorities. You're better off funding our schools properly, making sure that our kids get the right start in life, making sure our teachers are backed up, rather than having some debate about school chaplains.”
The Greens senator Penny Wright raised concern that, for the time being, chaplains and welfare workers would remain in schools while “all the guidelines, codes of conduct and complaints procedures have gone out the window”.The Greens senator Penny Wright raised concern that, for the time being, chaplains and welfare workers would remain in schools while “all the guidelines, codes of conduct and complaints procedures have gone out the window”.
Wright said chaplains could stay in schools until the end of the year “because the commonwealth has chosen not to recoup money not yet spent” – including $37m for the last six months of 2014.Wright said chaplains could stay in schools until the end of the year “because the commonwealth has chosen not to recoup money not yet spent” – including $37m for the last six months of 2014.
In responding to the high court decision on Thursday, the attorney general, George Brandis, said the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, had decided to waive the government’s right to recover $150m in payments made to chaplaincy providers.In responding to the high court decision on Thursday, the attorney general, George Brandis, said the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, had decided to waive the government’s right to recover $150m in payments made to chaplaincy providers.
An Education Department statement said the commonwealth no longer had capacity “to administer or control” the program and it would be “a matter for the individual schools and the providers of chaplaincy and student welfare services to determine” whether the services continued to be available to students.An Education Department statement said the commonwealth no longer had capacity “to administer or control” the program and it would be “a matter for the individual schools and the providers of chaplaincy and student welfare services to determine” whether the services continued to be available to students.
In Senate question time, the education minister’s representative, Marise Payne, said “no further payments” would be made under the current program.In Senate question time, the education minister’s representative, Marise Payne, said “no further payments” would be made under the current program.
Earlier on Monday, Hunt said the chaplaincy program was popular in schools and the government was taking steps to address the funding issues.Earlier on Monday, Hunt said the chaplaincy program was popular in schools and the government was taking steps to address the funding issues.
Hunt, who pushed for the program’s creation during the Howard government, told the ABC: “My understanding is that we have a very clear support for the school chaplaincy program … from the prime minister's public words, and so I think you'll find that the prime minister has re-emphasised the government's support … and there is actually bipartisan support for this."Hunt, who pushed for the program’s creation during the Howard government, told the ABC: “My understanding is that we have a very clear support for the school chaplaincy program … from the prime minister's public words, and so I think you'll find that the prime minister has re-emphasised the government's support … and there is actually bipartisan support for this."
Hunt said he was at a "little country school" on Friday and the principal told him of "the profound impact" of the chaplaincy program "in terms of comfort and support for students in helping primary school kids through difficult issues”.Hunt said he was at a "little country school" on Friday and the principal told him of "the profound impact" of the chaplaincy program "in terms of comfort and support for students in helping primary school kids through difficult issues”.
“Let's remember that, firstly, on the ground there's enormous support; secondly, it's entirely voluntary and up to school boards whether they participate; and thirdly, the high court was not against the chaplaincy program but did say that Labor's funding mechanism was not acceptable so the prime minister has indicated that we will take steps to redress this.”“Let's remember that, firstly, on the ground there's enormous support; secondly, it's entirely voluntary and up to school boards whether they participate; and thirdly, the high court was not against the chaplaincy program but did say that Labor's funding mechanism was not acceptable so the prime minister has indicated that we will take steps to redress this.”
Asked about the government’s policy to remove funding for secular welfare officers under the scheme, Hunt said: "Well this is a school chaplaincy program and that was as it was conceived because there is already enormous additional support for a range of teaching options and support options within school. On Thursday the high court unanimously decided legislation passed by the federal parliament in 2012 – intended to provide the commonwealth with the authority to make funding agreements and payments after a previous successful legal challenge – was “invalid in its operation with respect to a funding agreement between the commonwealth and Scripture Union Queensland”. Asked about the government’s policy to remove funding for secular welfare officers under the scheme, Hunt said: "Well this is a school chaplaincy program and that was as it was conceived because there is already enormous additional support for a range of teaching options and support options within school."
On Thursday the high court unanimously decided legislation passed by the federal parliament in 2012 – intended to provide the commonwealth with the authority to make funding agreements and payments after a previous successful legal challenge – was “invalid in its operation with respect to a funding agreement between the commonwealth and Scripture Union Queensland”.
The prime minister, Tony Abbott, said the government was “carefully studying” the judgment to determine an appropriate response, but he strongly signalled his determination to find a way to ensure the chaplaincy program continued.The prime minister, Tony Abbott, said the government was “carefully studying” the judgment to determine an appropriate response, but he strongly signalled his determination to find a way to ensure the chaplaincy program continued.
Fairfax Media reported last week the government could face a showdown with some states or territories over the chaplaincy issue, with the South Australian and Australian Capital Territory governments and the Victorian opposition saying they would push to include the secular officer option.Fairfax Media reported last week the government could face a showdown with some states or territories over the chaplaincy issue, with the South Australian and Australian Capital Territory governments and the Victorian opposition saying they would push to include the secular officer option.