Senator MASON (Queensland) (14:46): Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Kim Carr. Government senators interjecting— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Mason, you are entitled to be heard in silence. Senator MASON: Given that the Cairns School of Distance Education in my home state of Queensland will, according to modelling by state government and non-government schools, lose $4.4 million, or over half of its annual funding, and 3,253 other government and non-government schools around Australia— Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is entitled to hear the question, as I am! Senator MASON: I seek your direction, Mr President: should I start again? The PRESIDENT: No, continue, Senator Mason. Senator MASON: How about: given that the Cairns School of Distance Education in my home state of Queensland will, according to modelling by state government and non-government schools, lose $4.4 million, or over half its annual funding, and 3,253 other government and non-government schools around Australia are set to lose, on average, $500,000 in funding per year under the government's new funding model, can the minister make a firm and unequivocal commitment that no school will be worse off in real terms under its funding reforms?