19 February 2002

"Teachers and parents across Australia will welcome new proposals which begin to reveal how private schools are spending the windfall handed over to them by the Howard Government."

Commenting on parliamentary amendments proposed to private school establishment grants legislation by Ms Jenny Macklin, the new shadow Education Minister, the Federal President of the Australian Education Union, Mr Denis Fitzgerald said:

"The public has a right to know how the Government is spending their money. The Howard Government is already spending billions of dollars of taxpayers' money on private education, including some of the richest schools in Australia."

"Teachers are disappointed that Dr Brendan Nelson has chosen to push legislation which will further increase the amount of tax revenues going to private education as his first deed as Education Minister. It is merely a continuation of the agenda of the former Minister, the disgraced Dr Kemp, who dreamt up the idea of taxpayer-funded establishment grants for private schools."

"The amendments to be moved by the Opposition will begin to allow the public to see how their money is being spent by private schools; will make transparent the processes of some Federal government educational handouts and will redirect some taxpayer funds away from rich private schools."

"It is regrettable that even with the present controversies surrounding the Howard government they have declined to build in any measures of transparency or financial accountability in the legislation introduced today. Public schools must account for every cent they receive. The extra dollars sought in the government's proposal will bring the public level of funding to private education to over $16 billion."

Contact:
AEU Federal President, Denis Fitzgerald on mobile 0416 254 154