Catholic education congratulates the new Federal Minister for Education, Jason Clare MP, and thanks outgoing Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Plibersek for her commitment and support over the past six years.
"I congratulate Minister Clare on his appointment and look forward to working with hi m, the Assistant Minister for Education, Senator Anthony Chisholm, and the new Labor government to support Catholic schools as a genuine and affordable choice for Australian families," National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins said.
"I also thank Tanya Plibersek for her long-standing commitment to education and support of Catholic schools, particularly in finalising the implementation of a new 10 year -funding agreement for non- government schools, which gave greater clarity and certainty for our school communities.
"Mr Clare, who is an experienced former minister as well as a former shadow minister, most recently holding the shadow housing portfolio, has expressed a strong commitment to improving th e lives of Australians through education," Ms Collins said.
"The choice of a faith- based education is a desire for many families in Australia, and I look forward to the Albanese government finalising the Religious Discrimination Bill early in the new parl iament to protect the right of parents to choose a school in line with their beliefs and values.
and enable Catholic schools to operate and teach as Catholic schools." Ms Collins said Catholic education supported Labor's commitment to recommence the Austr alian Law Reform Commission's Inquiry into the Framework of Religious Exemptions in Anti - Discrimination Legislation, to ensure a fair and reasonable balance with other protected rights.
"The Labor government has also committed to strengthening the teaching profession, supporting genuine school choice through the current 10 -year funding agreement, access to early childhood education and ensuring affordable contributions for families in non -government schools.
" Catholic education looks forward to working in partnership with the Government to lift education standards so that a ll students reach their learning potential, and I look forward to discussions on this, and other areas of priority, with the Minister in the coming months." NCEC is the peak body for Catholic Education in Australia and is responsible for the national coordination and representation of Catholic schools and school authorities.
Nationally, there are 1,755 Catholic schools educating more than 785,000 students - or one in five Australian students and employing over 102,000 staff.
