Tony Abbott, Coalition Change Position on School Funding; Plans to Match Labor's Gonski Reforms Dollar-for-Dollar
Tony Abbott changes his position on Labor's Gonski school funding in an attempt to neutralise the issue of education in the elections.
The Opposition Leader vowed to match the Australian Labor's Better Schools Plan. He has reversed his long-standing objection to the plan that would guarantee payments to all states in Australia during the next four years, even in states that haven't signed up for the Gonski deal.
However, the Coalition is planning a crucial divergence from Labor's plan. Mr Abbott and the Coalition will override the powers of the federal minister to interfere with individual school management.
Mr. Abbott said that he and the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, were now on the same "unity ticket" on the issue of funding in schools. According to Mr. Abbott, the critical difference between the Coalition's plan and Labor's is not over funding.
Mr. Abbott said the Coalition will give schools funding, but there won't be any strings attach. The Coalition's announcement does not require Australian states to add more funds as stated under the Gonski plan. However, the Coalition is planning to work with the states to come up with a joint-funding agreement.
The Coalition's plan will provide schools and parents with the government funding they deserve. Mr. Abbott said that over the next four years, the Coalition will match Labor "dollar for dollar".
Mr. Abbott said that unlike the Labor's plan to take over state schools, the Coalition will propose a fair national funding model with better benefits for students.
According to Opposition Education spokesman Christopher Pyne, said Tony Abbott's announcement would allow schools and parents to plan for the next school year since they are assured of funding regardless of who will win the election.
Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the Opposition Leader has addressed some of the concerns that prevented the state from signing on to the deal during the time of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Mr. Langbroek said Mr. Abbott had acknowledged that the federal government will not be taking over schools in Queensland. Mr. Langbroek was also happy with Mr. Abbott's statement that it would match the Labor's plan without requiring the state to contribute.
Education Minister Bill Shorten reacted to the Coalition's change of position as a "panicked" move. Mr. Shorten believed the Opposition is in a panic mode since they know Prime Minister Rudd has gained momentum in the last month.
The Coalition already knows that the Catholics have agreed to the Gonski reforms, as well as the independents and Tasmanians. Mr. Shorten said the Coalition has no sincere passion for education. The turnaround was only a political solution to neutralise Labor's momentum in the school funding issue.
