Labor Senator Anne Urquhart has accused Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff of working on behalf of the Federal Education Minister by writing to Tasmanian Senators on Gonski 2.0 legislation.
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Mr Rockliff said Senator Urquhart’s accusation was “ridiculous”.
The letter, sent on Monday, urged senators to pass Gonski 2.0 funding and warned of the consequences for Tasmania should it not pass.
It was also sent to Tasmania’s Members of Parliament before being retracted by the Education Minister’s office.
The federal government is still trying to win enough support to pass Gonski 2.0 in the Senate this week.
Describing the letter as “disgraceful”, Senator Urquhart submitted a Freedom of Information request to Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham for any correspondence between he and Mr Rockliff about the letter.
Mr Birmingham told Fairfax Media he had no involvement and did not request Rockliff’s assistance.
“No, neither me nor my office asked Minister Rockliff to write this letter,” he said.
“But with Senator Urquhart and her Labor colleagues opposing Gonski needs-based funding for schools, I’m not surprised Minister Rockliff is lobbying Tasmanian Senators urging them to stand up for the additional $186 million we want to deliver for Tasmania’s children.”
Mr Rockliff said he wrote to lobby for funding security for Tasmanian schools, concerned for the state’s education sector if Gonski 2.0 fails.
“Claims that Minister Birmingham requested the letter be sent are just a ridiculous, desperate Labor conspiracy theory,” he said.
“The letter was sent to all Tasmanian Senators because we believe it is in Tasmania's interests for the bill to pass.
“The letter was also erroneously sent to the four Labor Tasmanian MHRs who have unfortunately already voted against the bill and against Tasmania's interests.”
Mr Rockliff said the state government was focused on securing good funding, and reiterated that Tasmanian schools would be $300 million worse off if Gonski 2.0 does not pass.
“We want a deal secured that is better for Tasmania, and Gonski 2.0 is good for Tasmania,” he said.
However Labor MP Madeleine Ogilvie reiterated Labor’s stance that Gonski 2.0 would see schools lose funding, pointing to new figures released by the parliamentary budget office.
She said “alarming” figures showed Tasmanian public and Catholic schools would lose funding.
“A funding cut of $35 million over ten years is not acceptable. It would have a devastating impact on the level of education ... in Catholic schools,” she said.
