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Coalition's change of position on school reforms fails to move states Coalition's change of position on school reforms fails to move states
(2 months later)
States do not appear to have been swayed by the federal Coalition's stepping away from its commitment to dump education reform straight away if it wins office in the upcoming federal election.States do not appear to have been swayed by the federal Coalition's stepping away from its commitment to dump education reform straight away if it wins office in the upcoming federal election.
The opposition leader, Tony Abbott, and his education spokesman, Christopher Pyne, sent a letter to all school principals in Australia saying the reforms, previously known as Gonski, would remain in place until 2015 under a Coalition government but left the door open on renegotiating the deals.The opposition leader, Tony Abbott, and his education spokesman, Christopher Pyne, sent a letter to all school principals in Australia saying the reforms, previously known as Gonski, would remain in place until 2015 under a Coalition government but left the door open on renegotiating the deals.
A spokeswoman for the Queensland education minister, John-Paul Langbroek, said they had been neither "encouraged or discouraged" by the letter which represented a shift in the federal Coalition's position on the reforms.A spokeswoman for the Queensland education minister, John-Paul Langbroek, said they had been neither "encouraged or discouraged" by the letter which represented a shift in the federal Coalition's position on the reforms.
A spokeswoman for Victorian premier Denis Napthine is yet to respond to an email requesting comment and a spokesman for the West Australian government said the letter had no bearings on their negotiations.A spokeswoman for Victorian premier Denis Napthine is yet to respond to an email requesting comment and a spokesman for the West Australian government said the letter had no bearings on their negotiations.
The prime minister, Kevin Rudd, was in Western Australia on Friday, meeting with Premier Colin Barnett, and the last formal meeting between Queensland and their federal education counterparts was last Monday.The prime minister, Kevin Rudd, was in Western Australia on Friday, meeting with Premier Colin Barnett, and the last formal meeting between Queensland and their federal education counterparts was last Monday.
The Wednesday before, Langbroek had a teleconference with the federal education minister, Bill Shorten. It is understood the Victorian premier's office has taken over the most recent negotiations from its education minister.The Wednesday before, Langbroek had a teleconference with the federal education minister, Bill Shorten. It is understood the Victorian premier's office has taken over the most recent negotiations from its education minister.
The letter sent by Abbott and Pyne was made public on Friday, the same day Shorten had given as the extended deadline for states and territories to sign up, and acknowledges for the first time the possibility a Greens- and Labor-dominated Senate could block attempts by a Coalition government to repeal the education reforms.The letter sent by Abbott and Pyne was made public on Friday, the same day Shorten had given as the extended deadline for states and territories to sign up, and acknowledges for the first time the possibility a Greens- and Labor-dominated Senate could block attempts by a Coalition government to repeal the education reforms.
It says if this happens the reforms will be left in place by the Coalition until 2015.It says if this happens the reforms will be left in place by the Coalition until 2015.
"This will give all schools the chance to see the first-hand effect of Labor's plan for themselves and what it means to you," the letter says."This will give all schools the chance to see the first-hand effect of Labor's plan for themselves and what it means to you," the letter says.
Previously Abbott and Pyne had made differing public statements on the education reforms, with Abbott saying the reforms would be dumped if all states and territories were not on board while Pyne said they would not be dumped if an "overwhelming majority" signed up.Previously Abbott and Pyne had made differing public statements on the education reforms, with Abbott saying the reforms would be dumped if all states and territories were not on board while Pyne said they would not be dumped if an "overwhelming majority" signed up.
New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, independent schools and Catholic schools have all signed up to the reforms while Victoria, WA, Queensland and the Northern Territory are still negotiating the terms.New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, independent schools and Catholic schools have all signed up to the reforms while Victoria, WA, Queensland and the Northern Territory are still negotiating the terms.
When asked about the letter in Tasmania on Friday, Abbott said all of the state deals could be renegotiated by a Coalition government.When asked about the letter in Tasmania on Friday, Abbott said all of the state deals could be renegotiated by a Coalition government.
"The point I make is we are not going to add to the uncertainty," he said. "We're not going to undo done deals at the start of next year but we think that serious adult government does not operate the way this government has, which is basically to hold a gun to the head of the states and say, 'Sign up or else.'""The point I make is we are not going to add to the uncertainty," he said. "We're not going to undo done deals at the start of next year but we think that serious adult government does not operate the way this government has, which is basically to hold a gun to the head of the states and say, 'Sign up or else.'"
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