The Greens embarrassed the NSW state government into legislating to end funding to private schools for profit

The Greens Bill would have stopped wealthy private schools like Kings College receiving state subsidies and directed the money to Priority Funding public schools. We also foreshadowed increased financial accountability for all private schools.

Relevant media

Education is the governments business, The Herald, 3 Oct 06

Greens warn of loophole in school funding laws, ABC online, 27 Sep 06

Fundamental flaws in the school system,  Newcastle Herald, 23 Sep 06

Lessons that everyone can profit from, Sydney Morning Herald, 27 Sep 06

An attempt last November to open a 'for profit' private school in the Hunter sparked statewide furore over whether shareholder dividends should be subsidised by public funding.
The Iemma Government was forced to introduce legislation to protect the NSW education budget fro would-be corporate raiders.
While Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt claims to have fixed the problem her legislation has left a gaping loophole.

"The government's legislation allows unrestricted payments to members of a private school's governing body without affecting its public funding.

"All a profit-focused business needs to do is put itself or a shelf company on the school's governing body and pay itself a huge fee.

"Public money will inevitably end up as corporate profits."

The Greens proposed to limit the size of payments and to restrict membership of the governing body to real people.

"The public interest demands that this money is better protected. The minister has an obligation to ensure that this money is spent on education al outcomes, not corporate profits."