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There are four parliamentary sitting days left for the Federal Government to corral the 10 votes it needs to land a critical schools funding package.
Key point:
- Government was trying to strike a deal with the Greens
- Coalition trying to lure the Greens by collapsing the timeframe for schools to receive their funding target
- Greens said they would not be rushed into a decision
Debate is set down for Wednesday, and the next day both houses rise for the six-week winter break.
As yet the Government is well short of the 39 votes it needs to pass the so-called Gonski 2.0 package: an $18.6 billion move to needs-based funding.
There are two pathways open to the Government: secure a deal with the Greens and get the backing of just one crossbencher; or map the more complicated route of negotiating the varied demands of the Senate's minor parties.
The only party not at the negotiating table is Labor, with the ABC being told that all other senators are still talking to the Government.
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham said there were "no grounds" for the Senate to oppose the Government's model.
"I ultimately hope that every senator sees the benefit in national, needs-based school funding, an extra $18.6 billion into schools and that everyone votes to support that because, frankly, it makes sense and it should be passed by the Senate this week," Senator Birmingham said.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Government was trying to strike a deal with the Greens because of the intransigence of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
"That says something about the Labor Party, that we have to deal with the Greens because the Labor Party are irresponsible —that's another question for Bill," Mr Joyce said.
"Why are you so cursedly irresponsible? Why don't you come out and do a reasonable deal that we can actually land that is better for our nation?"
Greens won't be rushed into making Gonski 2.0 deal
The Coalition is trying to lure the Greens over the line by collapsing the timeframe for schools to receive their target funding from 10 years to six, which would add $1.5 billion to the cost of the package over four years.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale told Sky News the party would not be rushed into a decision, just because the Government wants to pass the legislation.
"It may be that we are able to reach a decision this week, it may be that there are areas that need further development," Senator Di Natale said.
"If that's the case then we're not going to be rushed into a timetable simply because it's the Government that wants to rush this through the Senate and neutralise a tricky political issue. In the end, we've got to get it right."
The Opposition has argued the overhaul would leave schools $22 billion worse off than they would have been under a Labor government.
Shadow education minister Tanya Plibersek said it would be "very disappointing if the Greens were snowed by the Government" on the funding plan.
Topics: education-industry, education, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia
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