Senator McKENZIE (Victoria—Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation) (14:24): I thank the senator for her question. Our government is absolutely committed to ensuring that every single child in this country—whether they go to a private school, whether they go to a Catholic school, whether they go, like the majority of regional students, to a state funded public school—will be able to access the same amount of funding according to their need. I find it incredible to stand here and be faced with those opposite, who actually think it's okay that if you are in grade 6 at St Joseph's in a town like Benalla you're entitled to get a different amount of funding based on your needs, as opposed to someone in grade 6 in Manjimup or someone in grade 6 in a place like— The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi on a point of order. Senator Faruqi: Mr President, my point of order is to relevance. My question was very specific about the $1.2 billion Choice and Affordability Fund: how did the government come up with that number, and what role did the Catholic and private school sector have in coming up with that number for the government? The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, you have taken the opportunity to remind the minister of the question. I note the minister has one minute and 11 seconds remaining to answer. Senator McKENZIE: The $1.2 billion is actually part of a broader $4.5 billion package to ensure that the transition of our needs based funding package for Australian school students is delivered on the ground in a way that maximises outcomes for our students. Those opposite found it all too easy to ensure that 27 dirty deals were done with different state education ministers in the dying days—that was code for delivering equitable outcomes to Australian school students. In reality, those states that did not sign up to the Gillard-Greens backed school funding arrangement actually saw students with the same needs in Indigenous schools, in country schools and in Catholic schools in different states treated very differently. Senator O'Neill: That is not true. Senator McKENZIE: I'm happy to provide the data to set that out for you, Senator O'Neill—through you, Mr President. The reality is, when it comes to needs based funding— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Faruqi, a supplementary question.