Thursday, July 4, 2013

Rudd Steps Up School Plan Lobbying

by Paul Osborne, 21st Century News: http://www.21stcenturynews.com.au/rudd-steps-school-plan-lobbying/

The federal government has dismissed suggestions the Better Schools plan could be pushed back to 2015, as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke with state leaders and school bosses to finalise deals.

Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne said it appeared the government was considering a January 2015 start date to overcome a deadlock with schools and most states and territories.

“There is more chaos, and more confusion, from a Labor government that is reeling from constant change and uncertainty,” Mr Pyne said.

However, a spokesman for Education Minister Bill Shorten said the reforms would start as promised on January 1, 2014, as required by the legislation passed by parliament.

NSW, South Australia and the ACT signed up to the new funding model by former prime minister Julia Gillard’s deadline of June 30, and Mr Rudd has given the other states until the end of next week to consider their positions.

Mr Rudd telephoned leaders on Wednesday to encourage Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, WA and the Northern Territory to finalise their agreements.

The prime minister and Mr Shorten met with Catholic school representatives on Tuesday, giving them extra time to hold talks with their state bodies about regulations attached to the extra $3 billion in funding over six years.

National Catholic Education Commission executive director Ross Fox, who started in his new role on Monday, said the commission was committed to further talks to enable the funding to start to flow from 2014.

“State and territory commissions as system authorities will further progress outstanding arrangements in the coming months,” Mr Fox said in a statement.

The state bodies are expected to each approve a memorandum of understanding with the federal government.

Christian Schools Australia chief Stephen O’Doherty said the government needed to clarify whether or not the funding arrangements were ready.

“If it cannot be implemented by 2014 then it throws into doubt whether it will ever be implemented,” Mr O’Doherty said. “To be clear, we believe this would be a great shame as the new system produces genuine benefits in the medium to long term.”

Mr Pyne said the coalition believed any new funding model should be put off for 12 months to allow further talks.

WA Premier Colin Barnett said an agreement could be reached with his state if the federal government was more flexible, but he was not in a rush. He said he had a telephone call from Mr Rudd on Wednesday, adding that the new prime minister understood WA better than his predecessor.

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