Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has offered briefings to his state and territory counterparts to gain their support for a $4.6 billion peace deal for Catholic and independent educators.
Education ministers in NSW, Victoria and Queensland are deeply sceptical of the Commonwealth agreement, believing it must be accompanied by more funding for state-run schools.
Labor's acting leader Tanya Plibersek says states who support the new deal will be betraying public school students.
"How can a prime minister say we're going to restore funding cut from Catholic and independent schools, but not restore the much larger amount of funding cut from public schools?" Ms Plibersek told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.
The federal government is tipping an extra $23.5 billion over 10 years to all schools from next year, which is $17 billion less than Labor had promised under the Gillard government's original plan.
The recently announced deal for Catholic and independent schools includes $3.2 billion over 10 years to ease the transition to a new funding model.
It also includes $1.2 billion over four years which Catholic and independent educators can spend as they see fit.
Education Minister Dan Tehan is hoping to finalise negotiations with the state and territories over their individual funding arrangements.
State and territory ministers do not have to directly agree to the Catholic sector funding boost, but could put pressure on the federal government to also give state schools more funding.
Mr Tehan has said federal funding to public schools is at record levels, going from $6.8 billion last year to $7.3 billion this year and $7.9 billion the following year.
Western Australia wants to know how the proposed Catholic deal would affect state schools before Education Minister Sue Ellery supports it.
Northern Territory Education Minister Selena Uibo is in the same boat, hoping for a deal which is equitable for all schools.
It's the "very little detail" around the $1.2 billion fund which is preventing NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes from giving the thumbs up to his federal counterpart.
"I'm the minister for all schools and we need to make sure funding is provided on an equitable and fair basis to all schools," Mr Stokes told Sky News.
Mr Stokes has indicated an interim deal could be struck if there's no agreement for the long-term.
Ms Plibersek says public schools educate two-thirds of Australian children, including the majority of disadvantaged and indigenous kids, as well as those with disabilities or from rural and remote communities.
Australian Associated Press
