Page 3839 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 October 1991
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education that people in Canberra are used to. The Government cannot afford to pay for all students attending government schools. Far from attacking non-government schools, we should be encouraging non-government schools wherever we can.
First of all, I will deal with some important points about non-government schooling. Forty per cent of all children in the ACT in high school go to non-government schools. Overall, one-third of students attend non-government schools. Less than 10 per cent, however, of the recurrent costs or running costs of school education relates to non-government schools. Where is the equity in that? There is little support for capital works, for building and development, of non-government schools. That is largely borne by the community that attends those schools, through fees and other ways.
There is a myth that only wealthy parents can afford to send their children to non-government schools, that they are all elitist schools and that they should not be funded equitably with government schools in any way. Unfortunately, that is the way that we are heading with proposals such as that of the Labor Party in the ACT.
Let us look at some of the myths. I think it is true to say that 58 per cent of high-income families send their children to government schools. In other words, a large proportion of those people who could perhaps better afford to send their children to non-government schools send them to government schools. That is their right, and it is one that they should have. Many low-income families save money and undergo hardships to send their children to non-government schools.
Mr Berry: Which ones?
MR STEVENSON: Which ones? Are you suggesting that there are not any?
Mr Berry: No. Which schools?
Mr Connolly: Which schools have been affected?
MR STEVENSON: The schools that have been affected are the three in relation to which the cuts are taking place, for a start. For Canberra Grammar School the effect is a 50 per cent reduction; for the other two schools it is a 20 per cent reduction. Mr Berry, you will have the opportunity shortly in this debate to make the claims that you make.
Mr Berry: I am not making any claims. I am asking you: How many other schools are there, besides the three?
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