Govt schools to get bulk of funding

Public schools will receive 70 per cent of nearly $14 billion in new funding for all
schools, but only if the Rudd government can get its second stimulus package through
parliament.
Labor says boosting school infrastructure is a key element of its broader $42
billion nation building and jobs plan, while the coalition questions whether primary
school assembly halls and libraries should be a top priority.
But that argument could be a moot point, after Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull
declared on Wednesday the coalition would try to block the entire package.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd immediately attacked the opposition, accusing it of
stopping the biggest schools building project in the nation's history.
Teachers and parents would be outraged, he said.
"What you have embarked upon today is to vote against the biggest building program
in every primary school in the nation," Mr Rudd said in parliament.
"You are voting 'No' against what the school teachers, the P and Cs, and the P and
Fs of this nation are demanding.
"And you are doing so for one reason and one reason alone ... rank political
expediency."
The government will need the support of the crossbenchers to get its plan through
the upper house.
Earlier, Mr Turnbull questioned whether primary school assembly halls and libraries
were the most urgent "infrastructure deficiency requirement" in Australia.
Education Minister Julia Gillard said that comment proved the Liberal leader was
completely out of touch with Australian families.
"I suggest he walk into any school in this country and talk to the principal, talk
to the teachers, talk to the parents and ask them what they think," Ms Gillard told
parliament.
Everyone connected with schools had welcomed the government's historic investment,
she said.
If the package is passed, public schools will receive 70 per cent, or $9.6 billion,
of $13.7 billion in new funding for the country's 7,700 primary schools and minor
works in some secondary schools.
Catholic schools will receive 20 per cent, or $2.7 billion, while independent
schools will be given 10 per cent, or $1.5 billion, the government says.
A further $1 billion will be divided up among Australia's high schools for science
and language laboratories.
That funding will be based on need and a school's ability to begin construction
immediately.
NSW will get the biggest portion of the $13.7 billion pie, pocketing $4.4 billion.
Victoria will get $3.3 billion, Queensland $2.6 billion, Western Australia $1.5
billion, South Australia $1.2 billion, Tasmania $370 million, the Northern Territory
$196 million and the ACT $229 million.