Parramatta MP Julie Owens has criticised Opposition Leader Tony Abbott after he told an education forum the level of funding public schools receive was an injustice.
At a meeting of the Independent Schools Council of Australia on Monday, Mr Abbott explained the Coalition’s opposition to the Gonski review’s recommendation to overhaul school funding.
‘‘Overall, the 66 per cent of Australian school students who attend public schools get 79 per cent of government funding,’’ he said.
‘‘The 34 per cent of Australians who attend independent schools get just 21 per cent of government funding.
‘‘So there is no question of injustice to public schools here. If anything, the injustice is the other way.’’
The Gonski review recommended an annual $5 billion rise in funding to all schools.
But the largest part would flow to government schools because they had a disproportionate number of disadvantaged students, the report said.
Ms Owens said the opposition leader had made his intentions clear in the speech.
‘‘The message is loud and clear from Tony Abbott – all public schools are on his hit list,’’ she said.
‘‘That means that Tony Abbott will rip out funding for our local public schools, destroying the chances of local students to get a better education.
‘‘Public schools like Westmead Public and Granville Boys High will miss out under an Abbott government.’’