The Turnbull Government has defended its changes to the Gonski education funding model after secret figures reportedly showed Catholic schools would lose billions of dollars.
Fairfax Media reports that Education Department modelling reveals public schools would receive $4 billion over the next ten years if the changes pass, but Catholic schools would be $4.6 billion worse off.
Over the next four years, the data reportedly shows Catholic schools would lose $705 million under the so-called Gonski 2.0 model, while public schools would get a $693 million boost.
The data is said to have been provided to the senate cross bench ahead of this week's vote.
In the wake of the data modelling, Education Minister Simon Birmingham warned that if the coalition bill failed it would mean a big win for some of the nation's wealthiest schools, which would receive more than $1.6 billion extra under existing rules.
"We want to invest $18.6 billion more into some of the most neediest schools around Australia to make sure that everyone gets treated consistently and according to need," Birmingham told ABC radio on Sunday.
Senior Liberal Minister Josh Frydenberg also defended the coalition's education package, saying the coalition's plan would boost funds for schools across the country.
"We believe the Turnbull government record investment in schools; $18.6 billion in additional money, 75 per cent increase with 9,000 schools better off under our plan," Frydenberg told Sky News.
"Government schools will get more than a five per cent increase over the next ten years, and the Catholic school system will get more than a three per cent increase; $3.4 billion extra over the next ten years.
"The Catholic schools will still be able to provide the money as it sees fit to the schools within it' system, but you'll also see the independent and the government school sector also benefit."
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said the government's solution cut billions of dollars from all schools.
"We will see millions of dollars being removed from the public school system," Plibersek told reporters.
"This funding proposal from the government is a $22 billion cut ... These are enormous cuts to public schools around Australia."
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said his party would consider the government's proposal before making a call on whether to support it in parliament.
The coalition reportedly reached out this week to the Greens in the hope of gaining support for the reforms amid speculation the left-wing party has backed away from endorsing it.
"We're going to speak to our party, to key stakeholders, it's a very complex piece of legislation," he told Sky News.
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