ID :
135672
Sun, 08/01/2010 - 21:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/135672
The shortlink copeid
Labor to cut non-govt school funds: Pyne
The Federal coalition has promised to continue indexation of funding for
non-government schools, accusing the Labor government of planning to cut funding by
$1.3 billion.
Christopher Pyne, opposition education spokesman, said Education Minister Simon
Crean had so far failed to commit to continuing indexation for the non-government
sector, costing it an estimated $323 million a year over the next four years.
"There's now a clear point of difference between Labor and Liberal on the funding of
schools," Mr Pyne told journalists in Adelaide on Sunday.
"Labor will not index the funding of non-government schools - the Coalition will.
"... Those funds will have to come from somewhere and we know that means they'll
come from the pockets of the parents who have their children in non-government
schools."
He says the funding shortfall under another Labor government would result in higher
school fees and more financial pressures on struggling families.
Meanwhile, Mr Pyne - who is also the manager of opposition business in the House of
Representatives - further detailed proposed Coalition changes to Question Time.
"We'll introduce four-minute time limits for answers to questions from ministers and
one-minute time limit on questions to ministers," he said.
"We'll also ensure that we insert in the standing orders that answers have to be
directly relevant to the question.
"We'll guarantee 20 questions a day - 10 from the opposition and 10 from the
government and we'll make sure that matters of public importance follow directly
after question time rather than being delayed by seemingly unnecessary ministerial
statements."
Mr Pyne said if the Coalition is elected on August 21 it will "call on the then
Opposition" to give bi-partisan support to the proposed changes.
"When we were in government we could have done better, we should have made these
reforms but if we are elected on August 21 you can rely on Tony Abbott and I as
long-standing members of the parliament to end the frustration that question time
has become."
non-government schools, accusing the Labor government of planning to cut funding by
$1.3 billion.
Christopher Pyne, opposition education spokesman, said Education Minister Simon
Crean had so far failed to commit to continuing indexation for the non-government
sector, costing it an estimated $323 million a year over the next four years.
"There's now a clear point of difference between Labor and Liberal on the funding of
schools," Mr Pyne told journalists in Adelaide on Sunday.
"Labor will not index the funding of non-government schools - the Coalition will.
"... Those funds will have to come from somewhere and we know that means they'll
come from the pockets of the parents who have their children in non-government
schools."
He says the funding shortfall under another Labor government would result in higher
school fees and more financial pressures on struggling families.
Meanwhile, Mr Pyne - who is also the manager of opposition business in the House of
Representatives - further detailed proposed Coalition changes to Question Time.
"We'll introduce four-minute time limits for answers to questions from ministers and
one-minute time limit on questions to ministers," he said.
"We'll also ensure that we insert in the standing orders that answers have to be
directly relevant to the question.
"We'll guarantee 20 questions a day - 10 from the opposition and 10 from the
government and we'll make sure that matters of public importance follow directly
after question time rather than being delayed by seemingly unnecessary ministerial
statements."
Mr Pyne said if the Coalition is elected on August 21 it will "call on the then
Opposition" to give bi-partisan support to the proposed changes.
"When we were in government we could have done better, we should have made these
reforms but if we are elected on August 21 you can rely on Tony Abbott and I as
long-standing members of the parliament to end the frustration that question time
has become."
