School funding bill gagged

The 71 pages of amendments constituting Labor’s entire new school funding model, tabled late yesterday, were forced through the House of Representatives with less than 2 hours of debate. “The motion to shut down debate was moved on behalf of Labor by the Member for Lyne, Robert Oakeshott, who has abandoned any notion of proper scrutiny and any pretence of independence,” said the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne. “This Bill hinges on there being a national agreement for school funding. There is no national agreement, with only one State and one Territory agreeing to the changes,” Mr Pyne said. “Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory Governments did not allocate any funding for these changes in their Budgets,” he said. “It is reported the Labor Government in South Australia has not allocated any funding in their Budget for these changes. “Even if an agreement is signed, there will be no contribution from these jurisdictions. “For a Labor State to not allocate funding in their Budget would be a vote of no confidence in these changes. “The Federal Coalition has said all along that we will wait until the June 30 deadline for a national agreement before finalising our position. “On that basis we have not opposed this Bill moving to the Senate for further, much needed scrutiny,” Mr Pyne said. 5 June 2013