The Greens will be pressuring the O'Farrell government to redirect half of its private education subsidies to public schools after reports that the Gonski inquiry is set to deliver a $420 million boost to non-government schools in NSW.
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "Independent and Catholic schools in NSW already get more than $2.7 billion a year from the state and Commonwealth governments.
"Increasing that by 15 percent would waste taxpayers' money.
"It would place yet more pressure on enrolments in public schools by allowing the non-government sector to further reduce class sizes and offer
yet more luxurious resources.
"The NSW government is a generous donor to private schools, providing more than $800 million a year to top up the Commonwealth's $2 billion.
"Public subsidises to this state's non-government sector are already too big.
"With better targeting of existing state funds, including ending the $66 million a year that flows into the coffers of the 72 extremely wealthy
institutions like Kings and Sydney Grammar, the NSW government could provide a $420 million a year boost to public schools on top of any
additional federal funding.
"The Gonski report is likely to recommend that 25 percent of the proposed $5 billion Federal budget increase in given to the non-government sector.
"The NSW government could then cut $420 million from its subsidies of Catholic and independent schools and provide the money instead to public
schools. The private sector would still enjoy very generous public funding and the state's public education system could employ 4,500 new teachers.
"Private schools have done very well since the Howard government massively increased their subsidies in 2000, and federal Labor continued the biased and damaging funding model.
"All new money should go public schools to begin the process of undoing the damage done by the Howard, Rudd and Gillard years," Dr Kaye said.