School funding involves billions of dollars of public money. What the current proposal fails to acknowledge is that being sector-blind Gonski 2.0 fails to notice the typical cost differences between the sectors.
Private schools have significant sources of funding other than fees and government allocations. Non-government sectors engage in significant cost-shifting to parents through having them pay for activities, materials, equipment and extra provision, not covered by the school fees. Despite receiving public funding, non-government schools are under no obligation to enrol all students. They are, in effect, cost-shifting to government schools by not enrolling higher needs students as well passive selection through barriers such as fees, on-costs, cultural images and parents incapacity to pay for additional support. Any sector-blind, needs-based school funding system is likely to overestimate the need for public funding for non-government schools. The result is that the public funds provided to schools may not be wisely spent. No wonder the private school lobby has been so happy to sign onto Gonski 2.0
![Illustration: Michael Leunig.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170624045847im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/v/5/b/g/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwuoct.png/1497974995298.jpg)
Dr David Zyngier, senior lecturer in curriculum and pedagogy, Faculty of Education, Monash University
The triumph of politics
No wonder so many voters are disillusioned with politicians when politics triumphs over good policy time and time again. Gonski 2.0 is a dispiriting example with the Catholics complaining because their unfair sweetheart deals are being threatened. And now the teachers' union is pressuring the Greens to reject fair, decent and responsible policy because it would give the Coalition a "win". Too bad about government schools pupils losing out on a much fairer deal and more funding.
Lynne Holroyd, East Hawthorn
Model is chance for public education
Gonski 2.0 still has considerable problems of inequity, but is a chance to properly support public education. We are one of the very few countries in the world that support private and religious education bodies to the extent that we do. Countries that exceed in educational outcomes do so via strong support of public education and they do not fund the private system at all. If you want a private education for your children then you pay for it and the governments should provide open, secular and equitable opportunities for everyone.
Denise Stevens, Healesville
The rights and wrong of funding
It seems that the Catholic school sector views the existing funding levels of their brand of private schools as being an almost inviolable right. A right that has been denied to government schools where for decades they have suffered in the face of continuous budget cuts. All private schools have to lower their government funding expectations and accept that they must rein in their spending just like the government schools have done and allocate it more fairly and wisely so that they can be more self-sufficient.
Paul Miller, Box Hill South
The controlling hand of private process
In response to the comment from a Coalition MP, "Why should a poor Catholic parish school get less money than a public school". Two reasons, one the Catholic school is a private school and second the government doesn't control the amount that actually goes to that specific school that is controlled by the Catholic education process.
Laurens Meyer, Richmond
FORUM
Do not give in
In considering the editorial ('Terrorists win when communities overreact', 20/6) I would like to add that terrorism is a wildly exaggerated threat in Australia. Many of the day-to-day risks we take (such as driving) pose a drastically higher chance of killing us. But what terrorism does do effectively is make us scared and irrationally fearful.
Perhaps it's time we started de-emphasising terrorist events in our media, because ultimately by advertising their actions we are doing exactly what these people want us to do.
Kim Delbridge, Kensington
Stereotyping
In response to the editorial (20/6), I question why people think that all terrorists are Muslims. What evidence is there to show that all Muslims are terrorists? There isn't any. This is a stereotype that we as a society must stamp out, because if we don't the terrorists win.
Many, many people are dying from all these unnecessary retaliations. Muslims are afraid, afraid of being killed by people who think they are heroes of anti-terrorism. Just because there has been many news reports about Muslim terrorists, does not mean that every Muslim you see is a terrorist. People need to be more informed about terrorist attacks and not to place the blame on a group of innocent people who share a common background.
Jason Cho, Lalor
NBN headaches
I'm not so sure about the effectiveness of the NBN. It was recently installed at our home and the minuses definitely outweigh the advantages. I am in my late seventies and to assist with my disability have a lift in our home. The emergency phone in the lift does not work, my care alert does not work and my fax does not work.
Calls to the phone company are particularly frustrating. The NBN is going to provide us with a form for medical priority assistance, which must be authorised by our doctor. This seems a lot of trouble for something that was OK pre-NBN.
The computer is not any quicker and the only thing that is better is the download time of a movie, which we rarely use.
I think we were better off before this new you-beaut system.
Alan and Heather Harrison, Mornington
Road blocks
I wonder how much consultation was undertaken regarding the new road rule requiring vehicles to pass stopped enforcement, emergency and escort vehicles with flashing lights at 40 km/h.
While at face value it seems like a safer option than the current scenario, surely having cars rapidly decelerating from 110km/h to 40km/h is a recipe for disaster. Some motorists fail to see emergency vehicles even when they're right behind them using lights and sirens, so there's a good chance that behind the rapidly decelerating vehicles obeying the new rule, there'll be one continuing on at the speed limit, oblivious.
To complicate the matter, if the emergency vehicle is over a crest or around a blind corner, reaction time will be greatly reduced. I certainly wouldn't want to have a heavy vehicle behind me when the time comes.
Linda Tubnor, Warragul
Time to grow up
Yes, there is something about Islam, or the regions where it prevails, that is enticing an evil interpretation of its tenets.
But let's not kid ourselves, Islam is simply taking its turn in the corner, the contemporary black sheep in a truly awful extended family. In debating the danger of Islam, we're letting religion off the hook.
There aren't "good" and "bad" religions, just religion; a man-made licence to restrict freedoms and persecute those who are different. It's a prescription that has delivered misery on a scale to which no other human invention comes close.
It's time we stopped picking at only the most rotten parts of a rotten enterprise. It's time we grew up and debated the need for religion in a modern world.
Josh Maher, Brunswick
Endless cycle
Well done to The Age in publishing the danger to pedestrians from cyclists (20/6). Walkers in Altona have had the same experience as those in the city to efforts by council to tame those attempting the land speed record between Altona and Altona Meadows – but to no avail – especially when the cyclists are setting out to go to and from work. There need to be pro-active police bike squads – who apply the law and fine those thumbing their nose at authority and their fellow path users.
Doris LeRoy, Altona
Racing blind
We live in Southbank to allow, we thought, our legally blind son safety to move around day to day, a difficult situation to find but we thought we had. How do cyclists and pedestrians stay safe together on a so-called promenade? On a daily basis for the sighted, cyclists racing through this precinct is a heightened stress. Please let us not wait until a disastrous situation arises. Surely a barricade or the like can be put in place to allow all groups to exist together happily and safely.
Helen Smith, Southbank
Riding the gauntlet
The worst part of my cycling commute to work from St Kilda to Carlton is Southbank. I ride the long way around to avoid traffic nightmares, but when I reach Southbank it is the least intimidating option. So I run the gauntlet of oblivious pedestrians texting, walking stretched across the pathway and darting out from cafes and side routes without looking. I have a loud bell, bright clothing, three lights, and if I rode any slower I'd be stationary.
Last week for the first time ever, two pedestrians actually moved off one of only two bike-only crossings. When I congratulated them for their thoughtfulness I discovered they were tourists. I'm tired of cyclists being demonised in Melbourne. Yes, a few are inconsiderate. But I don't see motorists en masse receiving the same level of vitriol.
Chris Atmore, St Kilda
Rural problems
Matthew Guy is finally heading in the right direction ('Coalition to urge people to go bush', 19/6). His biggest problem attracting recruits to the outlands will be the hospitals and schools. Most country towns are broke, apart from the trendy ones closer to Melbourne. When Telstra, the airports, a quarter of Qantas etc. were sold under the Howard government, many country towns used the money showered on them to resurface their football oval, or to renovate a favourite pub or tourist office. All the money should have been invested in hospitals and schools.
Jeff McCormack, Hangelsberg
Laughing all the way
Maybe my logic is wrong, but the government is taxing the banks $6billion. The banks lift their fees and rates to get the money from their customers. They pay the government the money then get a large tax deduction on money the customers paid. They must be laughing all the way to their bank.
Bruce Cook, Glenlyon
Language barriers
University applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS ( International English Language Testing System) score of Band 6 to be accepted into a university program taught in English. To obtain a skilled migration visa prospective applicants require the same proficiency. Now the government is seeking to mandate that same standard for Australian citizenship. Many native born Australians will not attain such a standard. We accept that not all school leavers will proceed to university; instead they seek a pathway through a trade, apprenticeship, etc. Why, then, must the prospective Australian citizen be held to a higher standard of attainment? It's called discrimination.
Anne Tan, Forest Hill
Gender and pay
That a gender pay gap exists is indisputable and an issue that needs to be addressed, but to disingenuously link this to Gal Gadot's pay cheque of "just" $400,000 doesn't help. ('Even Wonder Woman isn't immune from the gender pay gap – for now", 20/6). Gadot was a virtual unknown competing in an (arguably) already overbloated film genre, competing with other big budget, aggressively marketed films of various kinds. For these reasons (and not Galdot's gender) the likelihood of this film failing (and investors losing their money) was not entirely inconceivable. The article itself concedes that male actors were paid similar amounts for similar initial roles and only greater amounts when their "bankability" had been established. Once films with female leads are as well-supported (and therefore make as much money) as those with male leads, the argument for commensurate remuneration becomes irresistible.
Anthony Hitchman, St Andrews
Christian dilemma
What a conundrum for our neoconservative commentators, a Christian committing a terrorist act. How will these warriors react? You can guarantee it won't be by blaming the entire Christian community.
Ian Hetherington, Moama
AND ANOTHER THING
Team Australia
It's unsurprising that a crackdown on citizenship rights is the latest for a government desperate to attract the One Nation vote. Any day now expect to see Turnbull and Dutton strutting around in Howard-era green and gold Team Australia track suits.
Thos Puckett, Ashgrove
No doubt Peter Dutton will demonstrate competence in the language test and the ease with which all seeking refuge may gain entry.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
Other matters
Grenfell tower – built for the many to perish in and the few to profit from.
Philip Bool, Warrnambool
Remember Tony Abbott – "there will be no wrecking, no undermining, and no sniping". Clearly an aspiration not a promise.
Ron Slamowicz, Caulfield North
Sorry India, we do not trust you with our uranium, but you can have all the dirty coal you want.
Ralph Frank, Malvern East
Australia's AAA dinosaur rating – Andrews, Abbott and Abetz.
Stephen Baldwin, Frankston
Yes it is such a "luxury" having a period . . .
Emily [surname withheld], Camberwell
Wow, Jade Esler (18/6), a successful business and a pilot's licence by 16 – what an amazing role model for young women.
Avery Poole, Richmond
Did Josh Frydenberg say "my colleagues come first"? Or did he say "my coalleagues come first?"
Gordon Williams, Brookfield
Well done Gillian Triggs for standing up to the government bullies on human rights.
Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick