Gonski 2.0 has Greens in Catholic firing line

CATHOLIC schools are coaching parents to put intense pressure on the Greens to oppose Gonski 2.0.

The Turnbull Government is expected to put legislation to a vote this week, and is negotiating with the Greens and other crossbenchers in the wake of Labor opposition to the revised school funding deal.

Greens MP Adam Bandt has already voted against the deal, which would provide $ 18.6 billion over the decade for schools. Catholic education authorities are so concerned about the funding changes some have prepared and circulated papers to Melbourne Catholic school parents ahead of visits by Mr Bandt.

Holy Rosary Primary School wrote that while it catered to “public housing and refugee and asylum- seeker communities” it is in the same socio- economic category as prestigious Geelong Grammar.

The Government is negotiating with the Greens about hastening the rollout of funding, which would mean an extra $ 5.4 billion over the decade. It is understood Senator Nick Xenophon, with whom the Government is also in discussions, would prefer a faster rollout.

The Government needs support from the Greens or from Mr Xenophon and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

The Greens will meet early this week to discuss options, after being briefed on the revised Gonski scheme by David Gonski himself last week.

One proposal backed by the party is a national independent watchdog to decide on school resourcing.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said he would not rush a decision.

“It may be that we are able to reach a decision this week, it may be there are areas that need further development,” he said.

Mr Xenophon said he hoped to resolve the issue this week to provide certainty for school budgets.