Senator STEPHENS (New South Wales) (14:16): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education. I refer to the Abbott government's decision to break its pre-election promise and rip at least $1.2 billion out of New South Wales education funding. Does the minister agree with the assessment by the New South Wales education minister, Adrian Piccoli, that 'schools in regional areas, as well as disadvantaged and Aboriginal students, will be the hardest hit'?