Labor limbers up for Gonski blame game

The Gillard Government’s plan to blame the states for failing to deliver the Gonski changes has been exposed in the fallout over the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) said the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne today.

“The Prime Minister has been practicing her lines over the last 24 hours so she can blame the states for Labor’s failure to implement their long promised changes to school funding,” Mr Pyne said.

“The Prime Minister will blame the states for Gonski, just as she is blaming the states over the NDIS,” he said.

“Let’s not forget, no State Government was even consulted about the contribution they are expected to make prior to the release of the Gonski Review.

“The Gonski Review suggests the states need to find 70 per cent of the total new funding.

“A 70 per cent share would be more than $18 billion in new education funding over the next four years.

“What is clear from COAG is that state governments are already under tremendous financial pressure and the Prime Minister knows she can cynically blame the states for her failures.

“Every day Labor continues to build expectation in the community they will act, cynically knowing all along that there is no funding available.

“Gonski did not even rate a mention at yesterday’s meeting and the current funding arrangements expire next year. The Coalition calls on the Gillard Government to extend the existing SES funding model for two more years, to give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future,” Mr Pyne said.

July 26, 2012