Catholic Schools Funding
Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: My question is directed to the Attorney General, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Training. Is the Minister aware that one in five New South Wales students is being educated in a Roman Catholic school, that most schools charge very low fees and continue to experience long waiting lists in student enrolments, and that two-thirds of Roman Catholic schools established since 1996 are concentrated in low socioeconomic areas? In particular, is the Minister aware that in the 2006-07 financial year New South Wales government schools received an average of $9,548 per student from the Federal and State governments combined but, in contrast, New South Wales Roman Catholic systemic schools received an average of $6,994 per student—roughly only two-thirds of what government schools received? Given the valued contribution of Catholic schools to our local communities, will the Minister indicate what further arrangements will be established so that Catholic school students receive the same level of funding as government school students to ensure that no child in the State, irrespective of their faith or that of their parents, is left behind?
The Hon. John Hatzistergos: I can answer some parts of the question. I recognise the valuable role that the Catholic systemic system in particular plays in educating young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, but there is a false premise to the honourable member’s question. That is, it fails to take into account the combination of State and Federal funding. The reality is that, for students in public schools, 90 percent of funding comes from the State Government and 10 per cent comes from the Federal Government.
In relation to the independence of systemic schools, the lion’s share of the funding comes from the Federal Government as opposed to the State Government. I think the State contribution is about 25 per cent. It is important for the honourable member to look at the total contribution across both levels of government rather than focus on the contribution of the State Government.
