Gillard’s ‘Conski’ not Gonksi
14 Apr 2013
Media release Labor’s education announcement today is a con.
“The funding announcement isn’t part of a real education strategy it is part of a desperate Labor Government’s election strategy,” said Shadow Education Minister Christopher Pyne MP.
“This package delivers only about $600 million a year in “new education money” or one tenth of what was expected and even then, it looks like Labor will force the States to pay for this,” said Mr Pyne.
“Despite being promised in 2007, Labor has today finally announced that the Gonski funding will be $14.5 billion over the next six years – just over nine months before the next school year starts and six years after it was first promised.
“However, the Prime Minister will only commit the Commonwealth to paying 65 per cent of the $14.5 billion - which is $9.4 billion dollars over the next six years.
“Labor has announced cuts to universities and other programme changes, with funding delays and broken promises, which are worth at least $11 billion over the same period.
“This means that Labor has effectively announced a $1.6 billion cut to education funding over the next six years – they will save $11 billion and spend $9.4 billion.
“This is not Gonski – it is a Conski. This is not an education strategy – this is an election strategy.
“Federal Labor is using education to fill its black hole; it is actually cutting its share of education spending.” Mr Pyne said.
April 14 2013