Senator PAYNE (New South Wales—Minister for Human Services) (14:10): It is somewhat remarkable that a former minister amongst those opposite would ask what possible confidence the community could have in a government, given the experience that Australia had at their hands, but let me nevertheless make it very clear what we now have and what we did not have before. What we now have is a national school funding agreement because, although it may be revelatory for those opposite, a national funding agreement includes all of the states and territories—it actually includes Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. I understand that is a revolutionary concept, but as a revolutionary concept it may be one with which Senator Carr can grapple. We have indicated that there will be— Senator Jacinta Collins: No, you don't. There is no agreement. The PRESIDENT: Senator Payne, resume your seat. When there is silence, on both sides, I will ask Senator Payne to continue. Senator Payne is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator PAYNE: We have indicated that there will be a funding amount of $2.8 billion— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, on my right and my left! Senator Payne is entitled to be heard in silence. Senator Cameron: What did Barry O'Farrell say? The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Cameron! Senator PAYNE: The government is providing a national school funding agreement including all of the states and territories, including $2.8 billion of additional funding for schools over the next four years. This ensures that all states and territories, regardless of whether they signed a deal with the previous government, will have funding certainty over the next four years. The government will also commit to the $1.2 billion that those opposite—Labor—ripped out of school funding. That is an absolute commitment from the Prime Minister and from the minister this afternoon. Not only did we promise Labor's level of funding before the election but we have now exceeded it. That is a very important difference to note between us and the previous government. It was the previous government, under the leadership, as education minister, of Mr Shorten, who ripped $1.2 billion out of the budget for this particular funding approach, not this government. We will replace that $1.2 billion into the budget. (Time expired)