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Morrison not bothered by government leaks

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was close to a funding deal with the Catholic and independent education sectors, a new leak reveals.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he's not concerned about leaks from his new government. (AAP)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists he's not concerned by the second leak from his government in as many days revealing his predecessor was days away from striking a major schools funding deal.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was on the verge of signing a $4.4 billion 10-year deal with the Catholic and independent education sectors before he was ousted in a leadership coup last month.

The deal was dependent on the Catholic education hierarchy agreeing to implement a needs-based funding model that assessed parents' ability to pay school fees, according to News Corp.

The revelation is the second leak out of Mr Morrison's new government and comes less than two weeks since he took the reins of power during the failed leadership challenge from Peter Dutton.

"I'm not terribly concerned at all," the prime minister said on Tuesday in response to the leaks.

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Mr Morrison said he had made no secret of the fact he was working with the Catholic and independent schools sector to resolve the funding wars.

"This is unresolved business at this point, this is unfinished business," he told reporters in Cairns.

"When we make decisions on those, and when we reach a conclusion on those, then I'll announce it."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was evidence of Liberal Party chaos and division, just when schools needed certainty.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Mr Morrison's honeymoon has been very short. Shorter than a Las Vegas wedding," Mr Shorten said in Rockhampton.

"What we're seeing is the government leaking on itself, taking announcements away, taking the wind out of Mr Morrison's sails."

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek described the leaks as an "extraordinary" display of disunity.

Ms Plibersek said 85 per cent of cuts the government has made in the first two years have hit the public school system.

"The idea that they would have a peace deal with just the Catholics and independents but not the public sector is completely unacceptable and absolutely would have reignited the school funding wars," she told ABC radio.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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