The Greens have launched their election campaign (1/08/10) and, according the leader Bob Brown at a recent National Press Club address, the "sole balance of power in the Senate and a breakthrough into the House of Representatives are both within reach." Such outcomes would have serious consequences for Christian schools. This article provides comment on the Greens education policy.

The list of issues pitched during the launch of the Greens campaign was long and varied. As is fairly typical of a 'third force' style party, one which has never had to balance the competing demands of governing, many of their issues have popular recognition - light rail for all cities, high speed rail between all capitals, ending junk food ads, taxing polluters, freedom for Tibet.

There is however a clear ideological and moral position underlying the Greens platform that will concern many, particularly people of religious faith.

While it didn't rate a mention in Bob Brown's election launch, their platform on education, together with their position on religious freedom issues, represent a direct attack on Christian and other faith-based schools. This reflects their openly hostile approach to Christian schools in public debate.

The Greens education policy would make school choice unaffordable for most families, and remove the provisions that allow believers to operate religious schools in keeping with their faith and belief.

In this, the Greens are out of step with the common sense views of the vast majority of Australians. They would return public debate to a more divisive and sectarian place than is in the national interest.

The balance of power is not a mandate to govern. Nor must these principles be traded off by major parties in return for senate votes on other issues.

These matters should be key concerns as people weigh their decisions in this election.

Policy extracts and comment

Below are some extracts of the Greens policy, with CSA's responses in italics.

[Greens policy] 41. Introduce the same accountability and transparency frameworks for government funding to non-government schools as applies to public schools and extend the anti-discrimination measures that apply in public schools to private schools.

[Comment] Two issues in one. Firstly, independent schools are at least as accountable, and some argue more so. Results of all schools are published on MySchool which, from next year, will also include financial data from all sectors. Independent school financial data has historically been reported to the federal department (DEEWR), and school audited accounts are subject to corporations law.    

The anti-discrimination issue, which also occurs at 63 below, is a direct attack on the ability of schools run by religious communities such as churches to be able to choose staff and generally operate schools in accordance with their faith.

42. Ensure the viability and diversity of existing public schools is not endangered by the development of new private schools.

In the past such measures have been used to prevent the growth on non-government schools, denying families the choice of an education based on their faith.

53. Reject the use of education funding vouchers.

If the Greens applied this policy it would presumably mean they would try to prevent the Coalition's Disability Education card policy, which would provide a transferable entitlement to ensure students with a disability get a fair deal. 

61. End the current arrangement for recurrent funding to non-government schools by no later than the end of 2010.

62. Implement a new model for recurrent funding to non-government schools based on the following: proper consideration of the resource levels of non-government schools and their financial capacity, including fees and other parent contributions; an appropriate measure for indexation of the funding of non-government schools that de-couples it from spending on public schools; and non-government schools to be fully accountable to the parliament and therefore transparent to the public on their use of government funds and their financial situation, including all income and assets.

This will be a key policy in the event that the Greens do have the balance of power. Legislation that will govern the funding of schools must be presented to the next parliament. Following the policy outlined above the Greens could be expected to further restrict non-government school funding. It should be said that independent school funding already is linked to need and capacity to pay, according to a formula which means the more well-off the school's community, the less funding it receives.

The Greens reference to indexation is of particular concern because of the ALP's current refusal to commit to this principle. If the benchmark cost of educating students rises, it surely rises for all. Without indexation tuition fees would have to rise in order to maintain standards expected by Government under the Melbourne Declaration and school accountability measures. This policy is short sighted, divisive and ideologically driven.

With regard to financial data, schools already are fully accountable (see above).  

63. Ensure that non-government schools in receipt of government funding: do not discriminate in hiring of staff or selection of students; have an admissions and expulsions policy similar to public schools including an obligation to enrol; and demonstrate social and community engagement and benefit by offering community access to facilities and/or a fee waiver for a percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or with special needs.

The right to operate a school in accordance with religious beliefs and values is a basic entitlement in a democracy. The Greens' agenda represents an attack on religious freedom and would be an inappropriate exercise of parliamentary process in a democratic and pluralistic society.

Christian schools provide, in many ways, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including concessional fee structures. With respect to school facilities, there is widespread use of Christian school facilities by the community.

64. Invest the money saved from ending public subsidies to the very wealthiest private schools into a national equity funding programme for public schools.

The current funding formula already means that schools with the 'wealthiest' community receive the least government support. 

65. Support the maintenance of the total level of Commonwealth funding for private schools at 2003-04 levels (excluding that re-allocated under previous clauses), indexed for inflation.

This would choke the funding for non-government schools. Every new school established would diminish the funds available for the sector ensuring that every school would face fee increases, and making school choice unaffordable for many families. Again it is driven by an ideology that is bent on ending the growth of non-government schools, and sees choice as something to be prevented. 

66. End government funding for schools that operate for private profit.

Non-government schools that receive funding, including Christian schools, all are non profit entities. There is no funding for private profit-making schools.

Authorised by S O'Doherty, 5 Byfield St Macquarie Park NSW.