Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey stripped $40 billion of funding from Australian schools. Malcolm Turnbull and Simon Birmingham want credit for giving only $18 billion of it back in their Gonski-lite proposal? ("Gonski 2.0", online smh.com.au, May 3). As if that is going to end the "school funding wars".
Rob Phillips North Epping
Well this makes sense at last, the government is putting an extra $19 billion funding towards our public schools over the next decade, so our children can be better educated. Oh wait, but then will they actually be able to afford the cost of a university education? Is the government making Gonski 2.0 a road to nowhere?
Melissa Graham Merewether
The most surprising thing about Malcolm Turnbull's Gonski policy pirouette is that Tony Abbott has allowed it to happen. Watch this space.
Peter Newberry Rose Bay
Scarcely Gonski as it was originally envisioned. It is certainly not a major increase in funding to NSW. It is over 10 years what was supposed to happen in the next two!
It is also full of the usual rhetoric about funding never having been greater, better teaching, sector blind etc. I have just listened to the NSW Premier say it will mean $1.7 billion "savings" in education will have to be found if the current funding agreement is not honoured. Isn't that a euphemism for funding cuts? No prizes for guessing where the biggest cuts will be made.
Augusta Monro Dural
Just when I'd thought Gonski had gone off to greener pastures, or retirement pastures, or pastures where you breathe in sharply and take a long look around, it seems Turnbull's dragged him back in, like the cat after a heavy night. Is it also true the government is risking the wrath of private schools, a fight once nastily contested, but seemingly put to bed in the '50s? If that little dust-up comes back into the mix, better measure up Bill Shorten right now for his shiny new leadership suit.
Rosemary O'Brien Georges Hall
I suppose one way the tiny number of rich schools who will lose funding could cope is to introduce an efficiency dividend. If that does not work they might consider sharing facilities with similar nearby institutions. Just a thought in these tough times.
Alan Johnson Seaforth
Mr Turnbull is getting plenty of accolades for his Gonski 2.0 commitment which will put $19 million into schools over the next decade. However, with Mr Gonski's appointment to conduct a review into "how the extra money can best be spent", it would seem as though the cart has been placed before the horse. Normally, one determines what needs to be done to rectify a problem or improve an organisation rather than allocating the money and then working out how best to spend it. Is this another Turnbull thought bubble?
Peter Nash Fairlight
The PM declares loftily that he "will bring the school funding wars to an end". However, he should have taken John Cleese's advice to "never mention the war". In his effort to improve his credentials with the plebeians by pulling a fairer educational bunny out of his Akubra, Malcolm Turnbull has actually let the cat out of the bag – and, despite its top hat and cane, it's a nasty, hissing, clawing tomcat. Watch now as accustomed privilege shows how low it will go to defend its self-declared entitlements. A fair go? Equality of opportunity? What a joke. As usual in neo-Australis, greed is great, even in education. The real, bitter, ill-matched war is about to begin. And, given the vested interests in private education within the coalition caucus, it could become just another step in sealing Turnbull's fate.
Bert Candy Glenvale
I feel I'm watching a poor copy of Utopia. "PM's office just called - they need a sweetener to soften next week's budget. What can you come up with?" "Nothing! Everything's already slashed or on next week's chopping block." "What about ... education?" – "Yeah right, a Gonski Lite heh heh ..." "Perfect – put something together up to, say, $18b – his speechwriter will do the rest, and at the next election he'll blame the states – as usual (chuckle)". "No worries, it'll be on his desk this arvo – but I'm still waiting for those Cuban cigars you promised last time ..."
Patrick McGrath Coogee
Why on earth Gonski 2.0? This man is wasting his time and efforts with useless successive governments.
I bet when Shorten takes over soon. Gonski 2.0 will be shelved again.
Mokhles K Sidden South Strathfield
Specialist medical services smack of kickbacks
What Ross Gittins didn't include in his critique of Medicare Budget 2017: (What's in store for Medicare and healthcare? smh.com.au, May 3) is over servicing. Specialist services don't come cheap and if you're an entrepreneur, you will want to see a maximum return on your investment. Twice I've been referred to specialists for a CAT scan and ultrasound. The end result, no treatment for what was diagnosed so what was the point? Don't tell me there aren't kickbacks going on.
Scott Dunmore Coonabarabran
Privatisation ultimate insanity
Your reporter Elizabeth Knight in her article of Wednesday 3 uses the adjectives crazy and financially insane in respect to corporatised monopolies doing anything to threaten their business interests. May I suggest the ultimate insanity was to privatise these essential facilities in the first instance.
Garry Carroll Maroubra
Trump's alternative history
Let's thank Trump for history's alternative facts. The US Civil War could have been prevented if Lincoln had not been so stubbornly focused on esoteric issues such as freedom, dignity and fairness and instead done a deal, any deal with the South. The happy singing of President Jackson's own slaves was recorded daily while they cheerfully made their way every morning to the cotton fields of his estate; the Soviet Union was only exporting bananas to Cuba in October 1962; and US scientists are all agreed that a nuclear attack on North Korea will put an end to global warming. Actually, that last one is probably quite correct, if you know what I mean.
Joseph C Veneziano Kensington
Media needs ethical overhaul
Freedom of speech is useless without media; as only media delivers the point to the masses. Given every media outlet has its autocracy which decides what and when to print, or convey, it has become a one-way tool only. Also media outlets are financially dependent on some oligarchs. Thus it's they ultimately calling the shots. Case study can be articles written for and against Islam. Only IS, and extremist Muslims get their attention as they only deface Islam. Our cherished freedom of speech thus can not happen without press freedom. But it needs justice, fair go, equality and rationality: an ethical overhaul.
Dr Munawar Rana Walkerville
Growth coming at any price
Not only have we made way for casinos in Sydney but also multi-level hotels for a tourism boom. We have enough high-rise box units in the sky under the pressure of increased immigration pushed by both political parties.
Now we are told we need to make way for "build to rent" and "multi-family" tower blocks because this is what happens overseas. We have lost our purpose in looking after our environment, our established Australian communities for speculative gain and growth at any price.
Roger Howard Pymble
Sad news about Fairfax job cuts
It is deeply saddening to hear that Fairfax management have moved to cut the newsroom by one quarter. This is a terrible day for individual journalists, for staff as a whole, and for democracy in Australia. Staff have my support and management should be aware that even long-standing subscribers such as myself won't keep renewing to read reprints of government press releases.
Colin Hesse Marrickville
Terrible news that Fairfax are having to get rid of more journalists and staff. This brave new world where social and other media has demolished the old media business model has serious implications for getting enough resources to afford decent, probing journalism. Instead we are likely to be subjected to endless, gut-reaction seeking tripe. It does not bode well for the future of our democracy.
Sadly, as well, I doubt that going on strike is really going to change the decision and will needlessly put more pressure on the people who have to keep the ship going. To survive, organisations sometimes need to resort to drastic measures. Recently News Ltd also announced similar tough times required tough decisions to be made.
Hopefully we don't get to the situation where journalism becomes cheap and nasty – and worse, misleading.
Terry Beath Melbourne
Pinning hope on cross-benchers
I agree with the substance of your editorial today (Tuesday, May 2), but not the headline "Don't play politics with the NDIS". Hopefully the cross-benchers will be able to address political problems with the proposed scheme, and its funding.
Unfortunately, the details of implementation might not be able to be addressed by fewer, and less-skilled, public servants, and profit-driven private operators.
Penny Quarry Redfern
Premier's plans will dud public
Gladys [Berejiklian] has got to be joking. ("Fewer agreements... less red tape, less prescriptive agreements, less overlap and more trust.") Good grief that will mean even more "commercial in confidence deals" wherein the public is dudded. She also has a short memory. Remember when WA and Queensland were the star economies? These things are by nature cyclical. Her government is far from transparent. Less red tape means less checks and balances. Great for big business but not for the person in the street. No – how about doing away with state and territory governments. Yes – our country is currently over governed given our population and one less tier will be a great improvement.
Jan Kent Farmborough Heights
Name airport after Whitlam
Surely the new airport at Badgerys Creek has to be named "Whitlam International Airport" after the commitment the great man showed in representing the residents of Western Sydney.
Dale Bailey Five Dock
Now that the federal government has decided to finance the construction of the second airport at Badgerys Creek they might want to buy a giant fog vacuum machine, as the site is located bang smack in the middle of a dense winter fog basin that often doesn't lift until mid-morning.
John Swanton Botany
Start early on student loans
Many university students work throughout their time at university. For some it is to cover living costs and expenses relating to their studies. But others also spend a portion of their earnings on overseas travel and vacations.
If they have funds to travel when a student for pleasure and adventure, surely they should not object to repaying the government for the cost of their university education? Shouldn't they be encouraged to commence repayments before they complete their degrees?
Denying themselves the odd cup of coffee or mug of beer to alleviate debt further down the line shouldn't cause them too much pain. It will also reduce some of the nation's HECS debt of $50 billion.
Nan Howard Camden
The fight against fascism
When President Trump and Prime Minister Turnbull stand together on the USS Intrepid, let us hope some Australians understand what is really being marked: a moment 75 years ago when American and Australian forces became allies in a struggle against authoritarian ultra-patriots, fanatical racists, and economic nationalists – a scourge we used to call fascism.
Douglas Newton Wollstonecraft
Student loans
So is a HECS debt a good or bad debt?
Todd Hillsley Homebush
Theory of education
Philosophy scored a zero in the subjects offered in the universities. Its truth, ethics and critical thinking are badly needed today to counter the "greed is good" ethic.
Reg Wilding Wollongong
Good Treasurer, bad treasurer
Scott Morrison is both a good Treasurer and a bad Treasurer. Why good?... He isn't Joe Hockey. Why bad? ... he is Scott Morrison.
Jim Aimer Kirribilli
Budge on Fudge
Newly released figures about the waiting time for disabled and sick people phoning Centrelink raise further serious doubts about figures released by Minister Alan Tudge in January ("Waiting time balloons on Centrelink calls", May 3, smh.com.au). Any update might warrant a tabloid style heading ... "Will Tudge budge on the figure he fudged?"
Better still, can we dare hope for some honesty or reflection about the impact that the minister's policies are having upon vulnerable people?
Paul Parramore Sawtell