Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Finance, Special Minister of State and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:00): I thank Senator Collins for that question. Our school-funding reforms, for the first time, put all schools on an equal footing. Ours is a genuinely needs based funding system, without special deals. Of course, Senator Birmingham, as an outstanding education minister, has been able to secure historic reforms when it comes to our school-funding arrangements. But let me read to the chamber what the perception of Mr Shorten's approach to school funding is by the Australian Council of State School Organisations— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cormann, please resume your seat. Senator Farrell on a point of order. Senator Farrell: A point of order: we haven't asked a question about the government's education policy. We've asked a specific question about a statement made by Senator Birmingham and we'd ask you to direct the minister to answer that question. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Farrell: I cannot direct the minister how to answer a question. I remind the minister of the question asked and that he has a minute and 11 seconds to answer. Senator CORMANN: Our government values the contribution of the Catholic education system. Minister Birmingham values the contribution of the Catholic education system. What I would point out, though, is the critique of Mr Phillip Spratt, from the Australian Council of State School Organisations, who is very upset about Bill Shorten wanting to reintroduce special deals. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cormann, please resume your seat. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Senator Wong on a point of order. Senator Wong: The point of order is direct relevance. The question goes to whether it is appropriate to liken the Catholic education office to Judas Iscariot. That is the question that ought be answered. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Wong. As I've pointed out before, I can't direct the minister how to answer the question. He is allowed to address parts of the question as asked. I remind the minister of the question and call him to continue his answer. Senator CORMANN: As I've said, our government values the contribution of the Catholic education system, as we value the contribution of all parts of our education system, and indeed that is the position of the minister for education. What I would say is that the public school system across Australia is very concerned about the fact that the Labor leader wants to reintroduce special deals into our school-funding arrangements, when this government has been able to secure historic reforms, putting our school-funding arrangements on a genuine needs based foundation. Labor wants to go back to the discredited ways of the Gillard government and have a plethora of special deals. That is not the way that we will proceed moving forward. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Collins, a supplementary question.