Tax deductions for donations to school building funds are set to stay in place after a backlash from Catholic and independent schools. Source: The Australian.
Federal Assistant Education Minister Anthony Chisholm has hosed down the Productivity Commission’s draft recommendation to scrap tax deductions for school donors.
“It’s not something we’re considering,” he told a Senate estimates hearing yesterday.
“There was a draft report by the Productivity Commission, it never represented government policy, and it’s not something we’re considering. I support the current circumstances that are in place.’’
Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said axing donations could rob schools of $3 billion a year to spend on building and maintaining classrooms and facilities.
She said the Productivity Commission recommendation had “devastated’’ non-government schools, as well as some public schools that also benefited from community donations.
“This proposal is a shocking attack on one-third of Australian parents who choose to send their child to a non-government school,’’ Senator Henderson said.
“School building funds are critical to the viability of many low-fee independent and religious schools. Low-fee-paying schools would suffer the worst, putting their viability at risk.’’
Senator Henderson also accused the Albanese Government of failing to lock in teaching reforms as part of 10-year school funding deals it is negotiating with state and territory governments.
She said the Government had only managed to start a “funding fight’’ with states and territories, which are demanding the Commonwealth double its offer to hand over an extra $3 billion a year.
FULL STORY
Government hoses down Productivity Commission push to axe tax breaks for private school donations (By Natasha Bita, The Australian)
RELATED COVERAGE
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Direct attack on faith communities by the Productivity Commission (NCEC)
