It is still too early to tell who will form the next Federal Government. However some conclusions can already be formed about the environment ahead for Christian schools. This article sets out our immediate concerns.

House result

While counting will not be fully complete until next week it is clear that whoever is commissioned as Prime Minister will lead a minority government. They will need to gain the support of three or more Independents/Green members of the House of Representatives to pass every piece of legislation.  This is despite any agreement to guarantee supply (that is, pass the budget bills).

Senate result

The basic make up of the Senate will not change until 1 July 2011. From that time the Greens will have the balance of power.

So what are the implications for Christian schools?

Funding for independent schools and religious freedom issues are at the top of our concerns for the coming term of parliament.

Funding

Funding for non-government schools is likely to be a much more contentious issue in the new Parliament, especially once the Greens Senators take their place in July 2011.  As we pointed out during the campaign the Greens policies as they stand would adversely affect all independent schools (not just the ‘rich list’). 

We will be making deliberate efforts to inform the Green’s understanding of our movement, especially that CSA schools largely serve low and middle income families for whom any reduction of funding would have serious consequences on school choice.  

Depending on the longevity of the next Parliament, the Review of Funding is scheduled to report during this term. The next funding system, post 2013, will be determined in a political environment in which Green policies play a much greater role. Importantly however, any legislation for a new funding system is likely to be a matter dealt with after the next election. It is therefore highly likely that school funding will play a central role in the next election campaign. It will be very important to get firm commitments from all parties at that time.

This does not mean it is smooth sailing until then. A very important consideration relates to whether support for independent schools could be ‘traded off’ in the arbitrage of issues that will take place in a minority-government environment.

Religious freedom issues

Christian schools depend on exemptions contained in state and (to a lesser extent) federal law to protect our right to employ staff in accordance with our faith. 

As we reported late last week, the ALP’s response to our question about this issue was quite a concern. Labor confirmed that during the next parliament there would be an attempt to ‘harmonise’ state and federal law in this area. While ‘recognising’ long-standing exemptions for religious schools, the letter from Simon Crean fell well short of the commitment we asked for, not to support amendments that would remove our exemptions.

Once again, the removal of the exemption for religious schools is a clear Greens policy objective, one they have actively pursued in state parliaments and it will require considerable attention during the months ahead.

Students with disabilities

CSA’s number one policy request was for portable funding for students with disabilities. The Coalition gave a commitment to phase this in beginning with the most disabled students from 2012. There is no reason to believe they could not act on this promise as a budget measure within that time frame, if they form government.

Chaplaincy funding

Both major parties promised increased chaplaincy funding. As this would be a budget measure, providing they remained true to their word, there is every reason to believe this would proceed.