The hard Left Canberra government recently offended against the democratic tradition of private property and Christianity by taking over the Catholic Calvary hospital in the ACT.

Our equally hard Left Prime Minister was asked to intervene - which he could have done because the ACT is a territory, not a state. He refused, and sided with his ultra-Left pals.

Now, the Albanese government is set to move against religious schools, after a report by a commission recommending that they be stripped of their tax deductible status.

The Albanese government - all Leftists governments - “hate private schooling” because they regard public schooling “as an essential tool by which to promote their ideas of social change.”

The report says that donations to private schools should not be tax deductible because there's not enough “public benefit”.

What rot! Private education saves the government and taxpayer billions. Without the private sector, the public sector would be swamped. Thirty five percent of Australian children attend non-government schools.

“A public school receives around $20,000 a year in government funding per student. But a private school receives only around $12,000.”

The slightly more than half payment is what keeps the public sector from being overwhelmed, and gives the opportunity of a proven higher standard of education, with no political indoctrination. Parents have to find the difference, and more of them each year are taking the option.

While there are elite schools benefiting from wealthy parents - not government, there are more that cater for the not-so-well-off. My wife taught in a Catholic school in one of the poorest suburbs in Adelaide, where there was no requirement for teachers or students to be Catholics: they could be any denomination, including Muslim, or no faith at all.

If people don't start taking notice of what Albanese is up to, it won't be long before all kids, and eventually, all Australians, are herded together wearing Mao Suits, totally brainwashed, just like the the totalitarian country whose dictator he has been seen patting on the shoulder and shaking hands with.

https://dailydeclaration.org.au/2023/12/28/government-plots-to-gut-faith-based-schools/

Yeah, at long last. Someone has dared to publicly suggest that religious institutions should be taxed. Let's hope the politicians have the balls to do it. They are only centuries too late. But better late than never though.

Private schools will be paying payroll tax from July 2024. However, this post is not concerned with taxation, nor is the reference article.

Hospitals vary in the type of services they specialize
in and provide, and the patients+ they treat.

Catholic institutions have a good reputation in providing
quality and compassionate health care to the most
vulnerable including, those reaching the end of their
lives. Catholic institutions are not-for-profit
organizations continuing their work in their hospitals,
aged care, across 5 states and 2 territories.

Why the territory government has decided to take over the
hospital in the ACT - I'm not sure. I can't imagine this
happening in Melbourne where St Vincents has such an
excellent reputation and has provided care for decades.

Both public and private hospitals are funded by various sources
including the Australian government, state and territory
governments, private health insurance and out of pocket payments
by individuals.

Trying to make sense of the territory's actions regarding
Calvary - will take more time. At the moment - not sure what
to make of it all.

As for the funding of private and public schools?

We're told that from 2012 to 2021 per student funding
to independent and catholic schools rose by 34% and
31% respectively while funding to public schools
increased by just 17% (according to the parliamentary
library data).

Whereas in Queensland the growth of government funding
to independent schools per student has been 9 times greater
than to public schools. In other words funding has gone to
those least in need.

In other words - private schools have seen the greatest
increase in funding since Gonski and public schools have
seen the least.

ttbn,

If your discussion is not concerned with taxation - why
did you bring it up in your opening post?

Just curious.

Here's a link giving more on the subject:

http://dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12260799/ACT-Calvary-Hospital-cross-crane-pic-angers-Catholics-Christians-government-takeover.html

Aries54 refers to the act of taxing religious organisations. That's nothing to do with tax deductions for donors to private schools. I assume that the deductions are worthwhile for governments because the donations from non-government sources reduce government expenditure. That's why tax deductions exist; not because governments are charitable. I really cannot fathom the mindset of the Albanese government. But, previous governments have always been aware that, without the private sector, education would collapse; it would be overwhelmed. This is why I agree with those who advocate a 'voucher' system whereby parents are free to choose the best schools for their children. Competition is needed. There are some public schools who could compete with the private sector. But overall, governments haven't been successful in running education, and competition with free choice is the only way to go.

About 50 years ago, there was talk of the Anglican Church taking over the responsibility of education from government. It's a pity, in my view, that it didn't happen. As with most things left to politicians, the problems with education now, are down to them. All children should be entitled to the best education that can get; and they are clearly not getting it from public education, except in rare circumstances.

I have never gone to school here however, I have spent a lot of time with public school teachers in communities. I observed a lot of wastage & big Dollars spent on everything not to do with educating students. I have witnessed excessive travel, excessive sport expenditure, excessive Art expenditure & excessive costly video/photography equipment supplied. None of which had the remotest link to education. I recall historical literature taken to the dump & I’m not talking about frivolous literature from the 50’s.
Personally, I’m not at all surprised at public school education standards considering what I have observed.

Indyvidual

Too much of the wrong and useless things, and not enough of the basics that set students up for the real world and for work.

It wasn't always thus. I went to public schools. We were taught the 3Rs, History, Geography, Science, Physics, Latin (dead though it might be, it helped with English), Chemistry, Home Ec, Woodwork, Music, PE.

In Year 9, you could choose a General Course or a Commercial Course.

No politics. No ideology.

The biggest challenge for those who care is to resuscitate a healthier mentality.

Victorian public school teachers posting photographs of themselves on social media wearing pro-Palestinian clothing.

Prahran High School teacher, Jason Wong, announcing that Hamas terrorists who raped and beheaded Jews were “doing what they had to do”.

There’s been some bleating from the Victorian Education Minister, Ben Carroll, but no action.

Individual's views are their own; they are entitled to them no matter how vile or mistaken they are. But, they should not be using their positions of influence to brainwash impressionable children.

The private sector can hire and fire teachers. The public sector cannot.

while funding to public schools
increased by just 17%
Foxy,
Morally, that is the proper way to distribute our Tax Dollars at this stage. Should Public School teachers lift their game they too should receive more. For too long our Taxes have been wasted not on the students though, on their teachers. It is merit that warrants reward, not just being there.

Indyvidual,

Not all private schools have merit. And certainly funding should be
based on those who need it the most. It should be more balanced
and even handed not just given to those who need it the least.
_____________________________________________________________________

Now back to the Calvary Hospital takeover.

Some Catholics are concerned that the ACT's takeover of Calvary
hospital may have set a precedent. They're worried not just for
the Catholic Church but for every institution whether it's
religious or not that the government is going to seek to acquire
other church assets.

There's a lot of anxiety on this.

The territory government claims that this takeover was not
based or motivated by Calvary's faith-based policies.
They insist that the efficiency of having both of the ACT's
major public hospitals under the control of one operator
and the need to provide more hospital beds for a rapidly
growing city were at the centre of the government's decision.

The fact is that Calvary hospital has been an operator and a
long term partner of the ACT government.

They've worked with the government closely for 34 years and
have existed for 44 years.

Suddenly this has been taken away. We need to ask - WHY?

Should governments have the right to make decisions in what
they believe are in the interests of its citizens?

Dear Indyvidual,

Geelong Grammar's Wellness Centre cost over 15 million.

"The Geelong Grammar School Foundation has raised $15 million over recent years towards new buildings, including the Wellbeing Centre which cost $16 million. The Centre comprises a multi-purpose sports hall, an indoor swimming and diving pool, a fitness centre, a dance studio, a medical centre and classroom facilities. The Foundation is now raising another $3 million for a new indoor cricket centre and indoor equestrian centre.

Despite all this luxury, Geelong Grammar will get $5.2 million in Federal Government funding in 2012 plus about $1 million from the Victorian Government. Together with fees and other private contributions, this will provide resourcing of over $35,000 a year for senior students.

This is two to three times the resources available to government high schools nearby serving some of the most disadvantaged families in Australia."

Is this an example of your "wastage & big Dollars spent on everything not to do with educating students"?
http://saveourschools.com.au/funding/govt-largesse-of-6m-for-geelong-grammar/

I was speaking to a public high school teacher recently. One of his deep annoyances is the influx of hard to manage students who had been expelled from private schools. More and more problematic students are being foisted on the public system. What's your solution?

It should be made clear that the claim that public funding
of hospitals includes an expectation that every public
hospital will provide every available procedure is a furphy.
Obviously not every hospital does brain surgery, or heart
surgery and this also applies to terminations and other
procedures.

This obscures the very different reasons why a specific
hospital may not conduct certain procedures for ethical
and religious reasons.

Catholic hospitals do not provide abortions - but lets be
clear what that actually means.

It means that it does not provide "procedure, treatments or
medications whose primary purpose or sole immediate effect
is to terminate the life of a foetus or an embryo before
or after implantation."

This definition helps to distinguish deliberate terminations
from other procedures with which they are sometimes confused.

These can include emergency procedures needed to save the life
of the mother or her baby or both.

Doctors in Catholic hospitals evaluate the circumstances and
make their decisions accordingly. They provide
what is required in emergency situations depending on the circumstances.

It is not true that Catholic hospitals do not provide needed
treatments in emergency circumstances.

We also need to remember that most abortions do not occur in
hospitals but in dedicated clinics set up specifically to
provide them.

Therefore it appears that the ACT government's take over
of the Calvary Hospital needs to be investigated. As to why
it has happened - especially after so many years of their
co-operation with the ACT government.

Not all private schools have merit.
Foxy,
I don’t think anyone’s actually claiming that they have. The thing is that public school teachers couldn’t perform even if they wanted to. Their unions will never allow them to instil a sense of responsibility because that would make many students wake up the agenda pushed by unions. That’s why public school teachers are largely kept at the level they have been for several decades now. Only private schools allow students to think for themselves which includes thinking about others.

Is this an example of your "wastage & big Dollars spent on everything not to do with educating students"?
SteeleRedux,
No, the wastage I refer to are air charters at every school holiday, Private School at Taxpayers expense, excursions at Taxpayers expense even when the parents are on six figure salaries, teacher relocation with packers flown in to shift them to another school etc., pocket money provided by Taxpayers. How on Earth the Teachers Union expects teachers & students to ever grasp the concept of merit & responsibility is hard to see for those of us who had to pay for everything.

SR has reminded us of another advantage of private schools: they can expel disruptive students for the sake of good students. A kid would have to do something exceptionally bad to get kicked out of a government school, where classes are reported to be the most disruptive in the world. And, the public system won't, or can't, do a thing about it.

On “merit” - there are clear examples of public schools lacking merit. Are there any examples of private schools lacking merit? And let's not have the old stories about paedophiles in some church schools. Public school teachers have been standing out in that area lately, according to the nightly TV news.

Few, if any, public schools have much to commend them for in their role as educators these days. Are their any identifiable private schools that could have the same thing said about them?

Dear Indyvidual,

You said: "Only private schools allow students to think for themselves which includes thinking about others."

Are you serious. All you RWNJs ever do is whinge about woke politics which at its core is thinking about others, and now you are saying it is a virtue? Only in private schools it seems.

And you haven't answered my question about disruptive kids expelled from an independent school being foisted on the public system. When the private sector represented 5% of the students that was perhaps manageable. Now 35% of the schools get to hive off their expelled rejects on to the public system. The teacher I was taking to said 80% of his time is devoted to managing 20% of his students. Adding a couple of extra in his class from the private system has been really challenging and meant worthy public school students are missing out.

Perhaps we should insist that private school students remain in that sector and a different private school be found to educate them rather than further degrading the education of public school kids.

The problem is really that most state schools are so crap.

My wife did a stint teaching at what was considered an excellent state school. What she found was that kids were being bullied classes were highly disrupted and the teachers were given no tools to control or discipline miscreants. After teaching at a small private school there was no chance she would consider state schooling for our kids.

The schools my kids went to had zero tolerance for bullying or serious misbehaviour that disrupted others and as a result, my kids did very well at school and university both in academics and sports. Neither of us regrets the sacrifices we had to make to pay the fees to get the happy, well-adjusted and successful adults our kids are today.

I would suggest the government make the changes to improve state schools no matter the resistance from the teacher's unions and stop trying to bring down the successful private system.

I fail to see the rationale for blaming private schools for the rubbish they have expelled being taken over by public schools. The anti-social yobbos do effect the good kids trying to learn in the public system; but this is just one more reason why parents should be given the choice to put their kids into private schools via a voucher system where the money goes to them instead of the public school mess, which is simply no longer fit for purpose.

If the yobbos have nowhere to go, tough. The penal system can deal with them.

SteeleRedux,
The situations you describe are nothing more than the results caused by parents, teachers & students with the same mentality you’re restrained by.
If you want things to get better you’ll need to change your thinking.