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Queensland shifts on direct federal funding for chaplains
8:03pm Wednesday, 10th August 2011
Suzanne Schokman
10 August Canberra – Up until yesterday, QLD and South Australia, together with the Commonwealth, supported the current model of federal funding for school chaplaincy programs.
On the second day of the High Court hearing that will decide the fate of this model, the state governments presented their case, and saw Queensland change its position.
Tim Mander, CEO of defendant Scripture Union QLD, says that Queensland now aligns with four other states which believe the chaplaincy program should be funded through state governments, and not through direct federal funding.
With this, SA and Tasmania have been granted leave to put in their submissions within 10 days.
However, Mander reiterated that the various states support the chaplaincy program itself. “It's the constitutional matter of state vs federal government powers which makes it appear that many of the state governments support the plaintiff, even though they strongly support the chaplaincy program,” he said.
He also says that not a single state agrees with plaintiff, Ronald Williams, that chaplaincy contravenes the "religious test" prohibition in the constitution.
Asked if he found the shift in Queensland’s position discouraging, Mander said that he still cannot interpret any outcome at this stage. “The hearing is taking in a wide range of law and implications, and the major issue is the scope of commonwealth power. We look forward, however, to our counsel making his presentation tomorrow.”
A decision on the case is expected later this year.
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