Purchaser-provider Politics

In Opposition, Kevin Rudd indicated that he did not care whether primary and secondary education was delivered by public or private schools; what counted was the quality of the education. There was an echo of this statement in Rudd's victory speech on election night, when he talked about the new government leaving behind the 'old battles', including the one between the public and private sectors. Rudd's statement was reiterated by Julia Gillard early in her term as Minister for Education.