Plans by one of Australia’s richest schools to install a plunge pool at the principal’s residence just doesn’t “pass the pub test”, says new federal Education Minister Jason Clare.
He was responding to reports that parents of pupils at The King’s School in Sydney’s Parramatta are increasingly incensed by the extravagant spending, including a private plunge pool for the principal, Tony George, and business-class flights to the UK for Mr George, his deputy and both their wives to watch the school’s rowing team compete at Henley Royal Regatta. The school campus already has two pools.
“Federal governments have funded non-government schools for a long time and that will continue,” Mr Clare said.
Australia has one of the most privatised school systems in the OECD and is one of the very few countries to publicly fund private schools.