NSW education ministers past and present have savaged Prime Minister Scott Morrison's private schools funding deal, while the state's teachers union says it's "corrupt".
Education Minister Rob Stokes argues the federal government's $4.6 billion proposal would spell a return to the bad old days of the funding wars.
"Quite simply, I won't be signing any deal that doesn't treat every student and every school with fairness," the Liberal minister said in a statement.
"The Gonski principles provide that school funding should be needs based and sector blind and these are the principles we hold dear.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"We don't want a return to the school funding wars of the past that pitted private schools against public schools and urge the federal government to provide equal treatment for all schools, public and private."
Former NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli, is also scathing in his criticism.
"This is pathetic. There is nothing fair about it. There is nothing Christian about it. It's throwing money at the powerful and well connected," the ex-Nationals MP tweeted.
Mr Piccoli subsequently tweeted Mr Morrison's press release on the deal and stated: "So, tell us more about the $1.2b slush fund you are setting up only for Catholic and independent schools."
The federal government plans to give Catholic and independent schools an additional $3.4 billion over 11 years to fund changes to the way parents' wealth is measured based on income tax data.
A further $1.2 billion will be spent on Catholic and independent schools as the coalition sees fit.
NSW Teachers Federation president Maurie Mulheron is outraged.
"This is the most corrupt schools funding deal that any Australian government has ever announced. It totally ignores student need and does not deliver one cent to public schools," he said in a Teachers Federation tweet.
The prime minister on Friday brushed off Mr Stokes' attack.
"I don't think Rob's yet had the chance to really look at the full details of this," Mr Morrison told ABC radio.
"I'm sure once he sees that he'll see those comments don't weigh up with what we've actually announced."
