The Record Newspaper 15 March 1990

Page 1

PERTH, WA: March 15, 1990

Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202

Number 2679

POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 W.A. LOCATION: 26 John St, Northbridge (east off Fitzgerald St).

TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388

FAX (09) 328 7307

Bouquets and brick bats on funding pledges • Page 3

PRICE 60C

Grants grumb

e •••

CALL FOR GOVERNMENTS TO SHOW GREATER RESPONSIBILITY by Colleen McGuiness-Howard

No matter what party wins the forthcoming election governments will have to show greater responsibility to Australian Catholic children, over 500 parents were told at Sorrento last Sunday. The growth of Catholic education building projects could not continue with the reduced government aid Catholic schools are to receive in the 1990s, Mr Bernard Boss, principal of Sacred Heart College said at the opening of the Margaret McInerney Centre. He called on the next government to meet its moral obligations to the young Australians "who are our children". He pointed out that anything the government did give, was no mere hand-out because Catholic parents have never asked for that. They were being given a small degree of the help to which they were entitled. Outlining the beginnings of the college by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions who only 23 years ago "began their work here in the midst of flies and sand dunes and not much else", Mr Boss said, it was their spirit which enlivened the school and in particular the deep spirituality of Sister Margaret McInerney which shaped the ethos of the College.

Some of those who helped the sisters with that early start were present at the centre's opening and Mr Boss applauded their efforts along with the sisters and the "extraordinary sacrifices" which Catholic parents make in choosing an education with a solid spiritual base for their children. But that struggle and burden of debt has not been sufficiently appreciated and matched by government assistance to which ALL, he emphasised, Australian children are entitled. Catholic children are not receiving their fair share of their parents' taxed dollars he pointed out. Looking forward, Mr Boss said the future held the prospect of as much struggle and sacrifice as it always has done for Australian Catholic parents, and in fact more, "particularly if the Federal Government funding packages remain unchanged". "It may even be that our Catholic system will be unable to provide Catholic schools in newly developing areas such as those in our northern corridor," he predicted. The Federal Government is not providing a fair and equitable return on tax dollars to the nongovernment sector, he

Mrs Margaret McInerney (left) flew from Melbourne to witness additions to Sacred Heart College, Sorrento being named in honour of her daughter Sr Margaret McInerney who is a general councillor of her order in Rome. Centre is Sr Catherine Brabender, Australian provincial superior and at right is Mr Bernard Boss, Sacred Heart College principal. said, in terms of grants for capital development. Instancing the gap which exists between what is needed and what is received, Mr Boss stated: 1. Capital grants have fallen in real terms from 1976 $67.1 million to 1990 $66.3 million. 2. In 1989 total capital

expenditure on Catholic schools in WA was $17.4 million. The Catholic system received $3.7

million in capital grants. 3. Before the end of the

century at least 14 new Catholic schools will be needed in WA and their cost will be some $85 million. Present arrangements indicate they will receive only $20 million. 4. Sacred Heart College has expended $1.6 million over the last three years without government grants. 5. Northern corridor Catholic schools have total debts of about $6.7 million averaging some $2500 per family. And there is no real

relief in sight, stated Mr Boss. While acknowledging with gratitude what has been and is being given with recurrent and capital grants plus low interest state government loans, "without which our schools could not exist", Mr Boss said, "what has been given is no more than what our children, as young citizens, are entitled to receive!" They are entitled to a good education in good

surroundings. Their parents pay taxes. And they are ALL young Australians, he said. Not only are they and their parents in justice and decency entitled to what they have already received, emphasised Mr Boss, they are entitled to more.

"While this situation remains," Mr Boss went on, "the political posturing, the tears, the solemn sincere looks, the breast beating, the declarations of loyalty to the welfare of ordinary Australian kids and families could well be seen by our parents as nothing more "They are entitled to a than political cant and fair and just return on hypocrisy." their tax dollar." Mr Boss said Catholic But they are not getting parents didn't seek it, he said, and as young unearned handouts — Australians they are but merely justice for being denied justice. their children.

Catholic schools demand support Principals of 10 Catholic schools in the north coast region of Perth have met with political candidates from both major parties to express deep concern about capital funding for Catholic schools.

Mr Willett

Spokesman for the principals, Mr John Willett, Principal of St Anthony's School, Wanneroo, said that the 3083 mortgaged burdened families who have children at the 10 schools

were currently carrying a debt of $6.5 million for school projects. "Some schools are only partly built and will be paying back loans for 15 to 20 years," said Mr Willett. He said that in the past year Catholic school parents in WA have provided $13.7 million for building programs. "This represents 79.2% of the total cost of the building projects."

He said that principals and parents at schools claim that this level of funding cannot be sustamed in the current economic climate. Mr Willett said that if Catholic schools in WA are to keep pace with the population current growth then at least 14 new schools costing $85 million will be required. "Present government funding arrangements would provide $20 mil-

lion at most. Does the government really expect school communities to carry a further $65 million debt?" asked Mr Willett. Principals and parents who attended meetings with political party representatives said that as taxpayers they were being discriminated against. "They said they have to carry an unfair burden of debt and that was dis-

crimination," said Mr Willett. In the past two weeks principals and parents have met with Paul Filing, Liberal Candidate for Moore, Diane Airey, Liberal Candidate for Cowan, Allen Blanchard MLA for Moore and the Deputy Prime Minister, Lionel Bowen. The 10 schools involved were: Prendiville Catholic College, Ocean Reef; St Simon Peter

Catholic Primary School, Ocean Reef; St Anthony's School. Wanneroo; Whitford Catholic Primary School; Padbury Catholic Primary School; Liwara Catholic Primary School, Greenwood; Sacred Heart College, Sorrento; Our Lady of Grace School, North Beach; Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Karrinyup; St Luke's Catholic Primary School, Woodvale.


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