Senator ALLISON —My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training. I refer the minister to comments made earlier this year by the South Australian minister for education, Mr Rob Lucas, that South Australia will not allow a completely free market for the establishment of new non-government schools following the federal government's decision to abolish the new schools policy. I also refer the minister to the recent statement by the ACT minister for education, Mr Bill Stefaniak, that the ACT government intends to maintain strong control over the establishment of new non-government schools. I ask the minister: does she share the concerns of the South Australian and ACT governments that the abolition of the new schools policy jeopardises the responsible planning for education services? Does she share Mr Lucas's concern that `millions of dollars of State and Commonwealth funding . . . could be wasted in such a free market'? (Time expired)

Senator VANSTONE —Thank you, Senator Allison, for the question. It gives me the opportunity to repeat to you yet again the arguments that you have asked to have rehearsed in front of you on several occasions, almost to the point that it is now an indulgence on your behalf to waste the Senate's time asking questions that you have asked again and again. You asked them when the bill went through again and again. I think your favourite line was: `I just want to hear you say it.' As I responded to you at the time, `In your dreams.'

Can I assist you, Senator Allison, with some pronunciations. You got `Lucas' right. Mr Rob Lucas is the Minister for Education in South Australia. I have seen some reports of some comments that he has made. Mr Bill Stefaniak it is, however, in the ACT; I have not seen comments that he has made. But the gist of the comments as related by you is that the states realise that they are responsible for these things and, yes, they are now going to in some instances take a stronger interest and introduce more regulation. We have no problem with that whatsoever.

The new schools policy—the abolished new schools policy—supported by those people over there was a policy that inhibited the choice of parents. We say, unequivocally, that parents should have the choice of the sort of schooling that their children go through. We do not have a preference for government or non-government, but we do want to ensure that all parents have the choice of the sort of school that they want their kids to go to. That is why we abolished the new schools policy. We do not see it as a matter for the Commonwealth to be deciding what schools should be opened where. That is primarily a matter for the states. I am glad you have been concentrating on what Mr Lucas and Mr Stefaniak have been saying.

Senator ALLISON —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for her answer. If the states do introduce their de facto new schools policies, will the federal government continue to fund those schools which have set up in the interim and which perhaps will not comply with the new criteria? Minister, is it not clear that the abandonment of the new schools policy should have been negotiated and agreed with the states well in advance of introducing the legislation, instead of being rushed through late last year?

Senator VANSTONE —If there was one bill that was not rushed through this Senate, it was this particular bill that you are referring to because you went on and on like a stuck record. Thank God we do not have RPM records any more. You reminded me of those days with the same question coming out again and again. This was not rushed through; it got perfectly adequate debate in this place.

As to the funding for schools set up in the interim, you are asking a hypothetical question. Should the matter arise, undoubtedly I will look at it and I will ask Dr Kemp if he has anything particular to say about it. But here you are setting up a potential problem that does not even yet exist.