After Labor’s funding plan for schools ‘went up in smoke’, their opposition spokespeople have been caught out telling different stories. Kate Ellis, who clearly said yesterday in Question Time that Labor’s School policy would be funded by a rise in Tobacco excise, has been sidelined by the Opposition Treasurer. “Prime Minister: …Let me remind him of the…
JOURNALIST: We’ll have an opening statement chat with Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham and the Labor member for Adelaide Kate Ellis. We’ll start with you if we can Birmo. Now, this Newspoll this morning, I guess, the logic of changing leaders last year when Tony Abbott was replaced with Malcolm Turnbull was that you wanted a better communicator, you wanted a…
Tom Elliot: Anyway, our next guest is the federal Education Minister. Senator Simon Birmingham, good afternoon. Simon Birmingham: Good afternoon, good to be with you. Tom Elliot: Now, I know this is sort of an official budget leak, but apparently you’ve got over a billion dollars to pump into primary and secondary schools – is that correct? Simon…
David Speers: With me now is the Education Minister Simon Birmingham, thank you for joining us this afternoon. Simon Birmingham: Good afternoon David. David Speers: So, what you’ve announced is less than what Gonski recommended, about $3 billion less. Was the Gonski Panel wrong about that or is it simply that you just can’t afford to do what…
Alan Jones: Simon Birmingham, good morning. Simon Birmingham: Good morning Alan, good to be with you. Alan Jones: Thank you. How do these arguments stack up? On the one hand, a wonderful articulation of the fact that spending more money doesn’t produce appropriate educational outcomes, and then in the next breath you spend more money. Simon Birmingham:…
Michael Brissenden: One part of the Budget that has been confirmed is spending on education. The Government is committing an extra $1.2 billion for schools between 2018 and 2020, partially reversing the $30 billion cut to education funding in the 2014 Budget. Funding will be tied to new literacy and numeracy checks. The commitment falls short…
Lisa Wilkinson: Well the Turnbull Government will head to the election promising a $1.2 billion boost to school funding from 2018, but the back to basics approach isn't without a catch. Schools will only gain access to the new money providing they commit to a long list of conditions, including literacy and numeracy checks for children…
Michael Rowland: Okay let’s go to the other hot button issue of the forthcoming Federal Election campaign, that is education funding. The Government announced yesterday that it will increase funding in tomorrow’s budget but the pledge falls well short of Labor’s commitment under the Gonski plan. Education Minister Simon Birmingham joins us now from Parliament House.…
Kieran Gilbert: With me now though to discuss the Government’s education funding plans and the rest of the politics of the day at the start of this very important week is the Education Minister Simon Birmingham. Let’s start first of all on this plan that you’ve announced yesterday. Labor says it’s coming in at $3.5 billion…
Simon Birmingham: Thank you for that welcome and getting me up here on stage nice and promptly and quickly upon my arrival. To you, as chair of the PIEFA board, to Ben Stockwin, the CEO, to the guests, particularly in the international guest speakers, board members, delegates, ladies and gentlemen – it’s a delight to be…