the secularist hate the fact that they are totally outperformed with far less money per student going to the independant schools. It is the idiotic ideologies and total lack of discipline that has led to this result. The union knows this but wants to play victim and increase its base. We don't need to keep spending taxpayers money to find reasons to justify the public systems failures. Blind freddy can see the problems. more money, more money. What a pathetic mantra.

"Blind freddy can see the problems. more money, more money. What a pathetic mantra."

Please, runner, feel free to tell us which private schools have reduced their fees...

Actually, giving any money to non-government schools is discriminating against government schools. Such payments are giving an additional advantage to the already advantaged financed by the general public. As the proverb goes, 'Them what has gits.'

Can we please have a new rule for all Gonski and related discussions? It would be, "If you know nothing about education in Finland, you don't get to use it as an example."
Finland does have private schools and they are FULLY funded by the government. Happy for people to argue against that, but that is the current state of play.
Also, you have to look a lot deeper than PISA results to make an analysis and comparison of schooling, and its results, in Australia and Finland. Population, infrastructure, training, pay, etc are just a few to get you started.
But hey, don't let e few facts get in the way of a good whinge...

Okay Rational-debate, you got me.
I should rephrase my statement by saying. As a consequence of general consensus in the sixties and seventies, there are very few private schools in Finland, and those that are there, are as you rightly say, fully funded by the Govt.
Finland spends around 5.9% of its GNP on education, which is probably higher as a pro rata outlay, than we expend here? Hence the need for Gonski!
Schools are run by local municipalities, and at least five parents are required sit on each school board.
This model results in more regional autonomy?
There are no school buses and students are expected to make their own way to school.
And children are expected to take a much more active investigative role in learning; and parents generally, a much more active participation role, in overall education outcomes.
Secondary students also set much of their own education agenda, which compels a greater level of serious study and individual academic interest?
Rhrosty.

Rhosty just can't stop digging.
Wrong on the 'no private schools in Finland' post and then the mia culpa which followed added more evidence of a complete lack of understanding of education arrangements in Finland.
Correcting the magnificent ignorance of the second post would be just too tiresome to contemplate.
As a gesture of good will I suggest Rhosty googles the Finland Ministry of Education web page where there is an english language version. This might help to add some informed comment to the discussion.