A Catholic organisation’s “misleading and anonymous robocall campaign” targeted the marginal seat of local Liberal MP Sarah Henderson, she complained this week.
Ms Henderson accused Catholic Education Melbourne of “misrepresenting” the Turnbull government’s school funding plan to teachers and parents in Corangamite.
The automated calls claimed that Gonski 2.0 was “unfair”, Ms Henderson said.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” she said.
“Our funding model is needs based, meaning schools in rural and regional Australia where there is inherent disadvantage are better funded. This includes Catholic schools.”
Catholics schools would actually receive more federal funding under the new package, Ms Henderson said.
“In 2017, Catholic schools across Australia will receive $6.3 billion and in Victoria $1.84 billion from the Commonwealth.
“In 2027, this increases by 53 per cent to $9.74 billion across Australia and by 59 per cent to $2.93 billion in Victoria.
“Between 2017 and 2027 Catholic education funding across Corangamite increases by 39.8 per cent.”
Catholic Education Commission of Victoria confirmed the automated calls in Corangamite.
The calls took “the fair funding campaign to ordinary Australians” said commission executive director Stephen Elder.
He accused the Turnbull Government of failing to consult Catholics on the funding changes.
“Education Department figures leaked to the media show Catholic schools will suffer as a result of this rush, losing $4.6 billion over the next decade, with more than a quarter of this – $1.6 billion – coming from Victoria,” Mr Elder said.
“We are deeply concerned about the new emphasis placed on school socio-economic status scores under the Turnbull/ Birmingham proposals and the inaccurate picture they paint about Catholic parents’ capacity… to pay fees.”
Mr Elder said the government’s figures were “misleading”.
Anyone wanting to know the “facts” of the funding plans for Catholic schools could find them at schoolfundingfacts.com, he said.
The government was on the verge of successfully passing the Gonski 2.0 legislation when the Indy went to press on Thursday.
