26th Oct 2022, 4:23 PM – Senate Regulations and Determinations - Australian Education Amendment (2022 Capital Funding Indexation) Regulations 2022 - Disallowance; private school funding

The majority voted against a motion to stop the Australian Education Amendment (2022 Capital Funding Indexation) Regulations 2022 from having legal force. Because this vote failed, the regulations will continue as part of our law.

Queensland Senator Penny Allman-Payne (Greens) explained why she introduced the motion:

These regulations would increase the capital funding indexation percentage for block grant authorities for non-government schools in 2022, thereby increasing federal funding to capital works for private schools by $15.6 million up to a total annual sum of $194.5 million. As of last night's budget, private school funding across the forward estimates will now be $1.7 billion more than the amount the previous government committed in their final budget. A greater proportion of federal funding for schools is now going to private schools, which is worse than under the Morrison government. This disallowance would maintain the indexation for capital works for non-government schools at its current rate. It doesn't suddenly rip money away from private schools. They still get $179 million per year for capital works.

Motion text

That the Australian Education Amendment (2022 Capital Funding Indexation) Regulations 2022, made under the Australian Education Act 2013, be disallowed [F2022L01167].

Twelve sitting days remain, including today, to resolve the motion or the instrument will be deemed to have been disallowed.