PM optimistic NSW will back schools deal

Scott Morrison is confident he will eventually secure support from the NSW government for his $4.6 billion deal with the Catholic and independent schools.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison remains optimistic the NSW state government will come around to supporting a $4.6 billion peace deal he has struck with Catholic and independent schools.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes, a Liberal like Mr Morrison, is highly critical of the agreement because he fears it will pit public schools against private and reignite the education funding wars.

The prime minister originally argued Mr Stokes would change his tune once he saw the details, but the minister is unmoved.

Mr Morrison says he's had "a few chats" with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian about the multi-billion dollar peace offering since last week, pointing out roughly $1.5 billion will go to schools in that state.

Meanwhile, federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has been dispatched to work on his state counterpart.

"I'm sure they'll see the benefits of this program," Mr Morrison told Sky News on Tuesday.

"There's more money for state schools, there's more money for independent schools, there's more money for Catholic schools."

Labor's education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said the prime minister was treating Australian students unequally and stoking divisions between public and private schools.

"We've got a prime minister that's saying if you send your kids to Catholic or independent schools we're going to fund your kids' education, if you send your kids to public school, we're not," she told reporters in Sydney.


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Source: AAP


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