Today’s confected outrage is education funding. It’s a great example of why politicians these days are so reform-shy.
The actual story is fairly simple: the Abbott government is developing a green paper on reform of the federation. Few people have any confidence this government is capable of the slightest piece of complex reform, but for the moment let’s accept that on its merits. A draft has been circulated to the states and territories, a sensible thing to do. A copy made its way to Fairfax, which zeroed in on one discussion point in relation to public schooling — a state and territory issue, not a federal issue — relating to charging high-income families who use public education.
By labelling it a “confidential discussion paper” and linking it to the Liberal Party’s undoubted favouritism to private schools at the expense of public schools, Fairfax portrayed it a secret anti-public school agenda on the part of the government. Cue social media outrage.
Maybe it is a secret anti-public school agenda. But more likely it’s one suggestion put forward by officials seeking to stimulate a wide debate about issues that have vexed politicians of all levels of government for decades.
Of course, the story immediately put the government on the defensive, with Christopher Pyne having to point out it was not government policy and not going to be and a matter for the states and territories anyway. All reminiscent of the time a mention of road pricing in a report to the previous government conjured an entire Daily Telegraph story about Wayne Swan planning to tax motorists, despite not controlling any roads.
The media constantly decries the inability of the current generation of politicians to undertake difficult economic reform. But look what the media does the moment anyone — politician or policy adviser — dares to even mention, let alone advocate, new ideas.
It’s not always the politicians who are the problem.
In the bramble patch that is politics – the media are the pricks.
“It’s a great example of why politicians these days are so reform-shy.”
I thought our Pollies were only reform shy in the eyes of Oz columnists?
I mean it’s only been a few years since the last round of reform in Federal education – remember Gonski, the plan this government said it was on a unity ticket with? Heck, it’s only been a year since Tony tried to reform both health and education. This government isn’t reform shy, nor was Labor, it’s just particularly shit at pulling it off.
“Maybe it is a secret anti-public school agenda. But more likely it’s one suggestion put forward by officials seeking to stimulate a wide debate about issues that have vexed politicians of all levels of government for decades.”
Shouldn’t we let those in government argue that case on day one, if that’s how it is?
“Of course, the story immediately put the government on the defensive, with Christopher Pyne having to point out it was not government policy and not going to be and a matter for the states and territories anyway.”
Of course, the PM was saying different things on the topic at the time Pyne was pointing this out. Fairfax’s fault for causing the split?
At this point, releasing a discussion paper/policy whilst having everybody in the party rules in and out different measures is the trademark of the Abbott government.
“The media constantly decries the inability of the current generation of politicians to undertake difficult economic reform. But look what the media does the moment anyone — politician or policy adviser — dares to even mention, let alone advocate, new ideas.”
So although it was an ex-Crikey reporter who wrote the two(?*)stories, a reporting piece and an analysis, we should assume that if the document had arrived at your offices, nu-Crikey wouldn’t have ran it?
Or if you did, you’d have stripped it from anything that might be meany to the government and their clearly puritan intentions for the education sector, so that they would have a chance to get their message out loudly and clearly?
It’s a big bullshit to both, so why act like it isn’t? You’re attacking journalist Mathew Knott for doing his job, and giving a free pass to a government who can’t do theirs.
*I only saw the two. Neither contained as much “confected outrage ” as this editorial.
The same confected outrage & nonsense which killed off Rudd’s Resources Super Profits Tax on the wealthy miners during the boom. Imagine the nation’s coffers now if the media had held off on that one.
I have never understood why GPS schools should get any taxpayer dollars.
If one’s family can afford the fees why should tax payers subsidise students at these elite institutions?
“The same confected outrage & nonsense which killed off Rudd’s Resources Super Profits Tax on the wealthy miners during the boom. Imagine the nation’s coffers now if the media had held off on that one.”
Pretty sure the massive ad and lobbying campaign by the miners, and a stitched up switch of the PM supported by the unions, played enough of a part to not stick that one on the media.