This report argues billions of dollars are saved each year when the Government supports a mixed model provision of schooling (government, Catholic and independent) by investing in non-government education in Australia. 

The authors calculate the savings to Australian taxpayers when the Government decides to partially fund non-government schools in Australia. The report finds when all schools receive their full funding entitlement under the Australian Education Act formula, savings to taxpayers will be $6.88 billion each year in recurrent funding. These savings include $2.19 billion for primary students and $4.69 billion for secondary students. Catholic schools make up $3.19 billion of these savings, and Independent schools $3.69 billion. On average, it would cost taxpayers 31% more per student to educate these children in government schools. 

The report comes at a time when enrolments are decreasing in the government sector and increasing in the non-government sector. According to the latest statistics, almost 37 per cent of Australian school students are in non-government schools and in the case of Catholic education, it supports nearly 20 per cent of students across the country, and over one in five students in NSW.