Questions without notice and ministers statements
Schools payroll tax
Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:01): My question is to the Minister for Education. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis the minister now has the power to charge a new tax on schools. When will the minister publish the list of schools that will be taxed?
Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:02): Government schools in this state have long paid payroll tax, and now we are ensuring the wealthier schools do the same to pay their fair share. The vast majority, around 85 per cent, of non-government schools will not be affected by this change, and we will continue to deliver substantial support for all schools across all of our sites. I am not going to go into the detail of this legislation, because it is currently before the house.
Jess WILSON (Kew) (14:02): Nazareth College in Noble Park North charges fees of around $1700 per term. Will the minister guarantee that this school will not be subject to the school tax?
Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:03): I would just like to reiterate for the house that education received $4.9 billion out of the most recent budget for early childhood, primary schools and secondary schools. That goes across our low fee paying schools and our government schools, and we will continue to support those schools that need the assistance with growth.
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on standing order 58, this is an important question in relation to a particular school in Noble Park. The minister was asked whether that school would be subject to the government’s new hit-list tax, and I ask you to bring the minister back to that question.
The SPEAKER: Manager of Opposition Business, I ask that you do not use points of order to repeat the question. The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.
Natalie HUTCHINS: I remind the house that the legislation to facilitate this is currently before the house, and this government has a long history of being able to differentiate between low fee paying independent schools and high fee paying independent schools. Once the legislation and the regulations are through this house and the other house, we will be working with the sector to determine a list.