[originaltext]W: There’s been a lot of focus on the funding increase that was r

W: There’s been a lot of focus on the funding increase that was recommended in the Gonski Review. You put very little money for Gonski in the Budget. Will the outcome depend on whether or not you can afford to pay for it?
M: We’ve already got about a doubling of funding by the Gillard Government into education. We recognize that investment is needed and we’re directing it in the places it counts, like teacher quality, literacy and numeracy. And we’ve provided funding certainty for the non-government school sector while we look at Gonski and the funding reforms. Once we’ve done that, we will have a discussion about money. There’s no question about that. But we do it on the back of really significant investments up to this point in time, and actually recognizing effective and transparent education funding system in place that meets the needs of all students is absolutely our next important step.
W: Just to be clear, at this stage it’s more likely than not you’ll have a funding model that looks like some of the things that Gonski recommended and you’ll commit to increased funding?
M: Well, on the second question, that’s a matter for the Treasurer and the Cabinet and agreement that we reach around a model. On the first part of your question,yes, my expectation is that a great deal of what Mr.Gonski and his panel have proposed in terms of a fairer and more effective education system will comprise a model. But this is the biggest chance that we’ve had to look at school funding in this country for nearly 40 years. We’ve got to get it right and we have to do it in a way which brings together all of the key stakeholders. That’s education state departments and the independent school sector. So they’ll have a role to play.
W: And one final question, the Premier of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell announced yesterday a new model to try and address the low rates of retention in indigenous education, having effectively a super principal who organizes, not only the school, but other services around that. What do you think of his model?
M: Yeah, I think that model has merit and certainly we will provide some support to that model, and I think that New South Wales is right to be focusing on how you best get intense effort happening in communities where the school is at the centre of the community, so these kids can succeed. And I’ve announced additional funding for 200 of these schools. We do have to consider these prospects that aboriginal kids have in our schools. We actually get on with the job of giving them the better support they need and I think this should help.
W: Peter Garrett, thank you very much for your time.
This is the end of Part Two of the interview.
Questions 6 to 10 are based on what you have just heard.
6. What can we know about the funding of the Gonski reforms?
7. Which of the following sectors has already got funding certainty?
8. What does Peter Garrett say about increased funding?
9. According to Peter Garrett, who are the key stakeholders in the school funding reform?
10. Why does Peter Garrett praise the new model announced by Barry O’Farrell?