The State Opposition Leader John Robertson has accused Coalition members of failing to engage in debate over the $1.7 billion in cuts to education.The Premier Barry O'Farrell has denied reports he faced a backbench revolt over the cuts at a joint party room meeting on Tuesday.
Mr Robertson says Labor has tried to call for debate in Parliament but Coalition members have resisted.
"On every occasion, every member of the Government has voted against having that debate, the tragedy here is that whilst they make noises that they're opposed to it, when the opportunity presents for them to demonstrate that in the Parliament, they refuse to do so."
Premier says frontline positions safe
The Premier Barry O'Farrell maintains frontline positions won't be affected and the cuts should be seen as savings."When we came to office, 21-point-4 percent of the state budget was spent on education, last year it was 22 percent, this year it is 22-point-4 percent we are putting more money into our schools."
He says says the State must live within its means.
"Whether I go into hospitals or whether I go into schools the most frequent from teachers, from nurses and other health professions is their mystification about what some of the people in head offices are doing so look this is a tough decision absolutely."
Federal education funding to drop
Meanwhile, Commonwealth funding to education is set to drop as a result of the reduced State spending.The State expects the Commonwealth indexation rate for funding will fall from about six-per-cent to just under four-per-cent.
It is not yet clear how this translates into lost dollars but it is likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
A Government source says this does not take into account this week's decision to slash the education budget.
Mr Robertson says the likely flow-on from that decision is a worry.
"Barry O'Farrell's decision to cut $1.7 billion from the Education Budget is going to have devastating consequences."
The Commonwealth rate is also influenced by inflation.
The Church weighs in
The Catholic Church is stepping up its pressure on the State Government over the with one dioceses warning it will reassess its building plans in Western Sydney.Catholic Education in the Parramatta Dioceses runs 80 schools in Western Sydney.
Executive Director Greg Whitby estimates they will lose nearly $30 million over fours years and he has raised his concerns with local Liberal MPs.
"Everyone has expressed their surprise that this has happened," he said.