INTERVIEWER
Tonight, we’ll be talking to the Opposition Education Spokesman, Mr Christopher Whine. Good evening, Mr Whine.
MR WHINE
Good evening.
INTERVIEWER
So, is the Coalition going to commit to implementing the Gonski Report?
MR WHINE
Well, we’re not in Government, so we’re not the ones you should be asking.
INTERVIEWER
Well, let’s for the sake of argument imagine you become the Government in September. Will you commit to implementing the Gonski Report?
MR WHINE
We have to wait and see if there’s any money left after all Labor’s spending, but I suspect that a lot of the things we’d like to implement will be just too expensive given the enormous black hole that Labor will leave us.
INTERVIEWER
So what is your education policy then?
MR WHINE
We’ll release it closer to the next election.
INTERVIEWER
How close to the next election? It’s only five months away.
MR WHINE
About two weeks from the election date.
INTERVIEWER
Couldn’t it be argued that releasing a policy two weeks before the election doesn’t leave enough time to analyse it?
MR WHINE
No, two weeks AFTER the election. People will have plenty of time to analyse it.
INTERVIEWER
So you won’t be releasing your education policy until after the next election? That seems a bit odd …
MR WHINE
Why should education be any different? It’s not as though people don’t know our broad position on things.
INTERVIEWER
Which is?
MR WHINE
We think that rather than throwing money at things, we should all tighten our belts and do the things that can improve our education system without costing too much. This is not a bottomless pit and people just need to make do.
INTERVIEWER
So you’ll be cutting funding to the wealthier private schools?
MR WHINE
No, that’s the sort of class warfare that Labor indulges in.
INTERVIEWER
So, why shouldn’t they have to have cuts as well as the public system?
MR WHINE
Because they need the money. Otherwise they’d have to raise their fees and less people could afford to go there.
INTERVIEWER
So what’s your plan to help the poorer schools?
MR WHINE
When we are, we’ll have loads of policies. Like improving teacher quality.
INTERVIEWER
And how will you do that?
MR WHINE
By telling teachers the best way to teach. Which is standing out the front of the class telling them things in an interesting way. We’ll also make it easier to remove underperforming teachers. And by rewarding the good teachers. At the moment we have the absurd situation where the best teachers are paid the same as the worst. Everyone knows a really good teacher when they see one.
INTERVIEWER
And how will you determine which teachers receive performance pay?
MR WHINE
I just told you – by looking at them. Everyone knows a good teacher when they see one.
INTERVIEWER
Aren’t you afraid that performance pay might disrupt the teamwork and the sharing that’s an essential part of a good school?
MR WHINE
No, I expect it’ll make all teachers try harder.
INTERVIEWER
So how will you know who are the best teachers?
MR WHINE
They’ll be the ones getting the performance pay.
INTERVIEWER
Then wouldn’t it be easier to raise the salaries of all teachers?
MR WHINE
No, then we’d be rewarding the underperforming ones as well.
INTERVIEWER
But I thought you said you’d get rid of the underperforming teachers …
MR WHINE
Yes, but that’s just the really bad ones, not the ones who just aren’t as good as the really good teachers which we’ve identified through a totally fair process.
INTERVIEWER
Any other broad concepts for education?
MR WHINE
Well, after we’ve sold Medibank Private, then we’ll look at selling the school system.
INTERVIEWER
Selling the school system?
MR WHINE
Yes everyone agrees that private schools are the best so it makes sense to privatise the whole system.
INTERVIEWER
Well that’s worked well with Public Transport …
MR WHINE
Yes, now if something goes wrong, the State Government can just blame the private operator. And look at how much money energy companies have saved on basic maintenance since they were privatised.
INTERVIEWER
But has it improved the system?
MR WHINE
Sorry, I don’t understand the question.
INTERVIEWER
That’s all we have time for. Good night, and thank you.
MR WHINE
Always a pleasure.
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