Catholic schools have launched a video campaign to highlight the impact of the Liberal-National Government’s proposed funding reforms on low-fee paying Catholic school families.
The videos were released earlier today by the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), with the legislation due to be put to a vote on Wednesday.
Figures from the Education Minister, Simon Birmingham’s own department, which came to light yesterday, suggest that Catholic education will face a $4.6b loss in funding over the course of the next 10 years.
With the Labor party opposed to the reforms, the Coalition is looking to put together a deal with the crossbench senators and unlikely-bedfellows the Australian Greens.
Crossbench senator and Nick Xenephon Team leader, Nick Xenephon is understood to be broadly supportive of the reforms, while one WA Liberal Senator, Chris Backmay, has threatened to cross the floor at the prospect of Catholic school communities losing out.
The NCEC complained at the time of the Government’s ‘Gonski 2.0’ announcement that the government had failed to consult Catholic schools, the second largest provider of primary and secondary education in the country.