Having independent schools saves Commonwealth and State governments in order of $3.9 billion a year in recurrent funding alone. That is, for the governments of Australia to educate in government schools those students currently attending non-government schools would cost an additional $8.3 billion per annum of which approximately $3.9 billion is attributed to students attending independent schools.
In the absence of the non-government school sector, either total government spending on education (and most likely taxation) would have to increase or average government funding per student in government schools would need to be reduced.
The difference between government funding received and the cost of educating a child at an independent school is met by parents from their after tax income.
