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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Sarah Lansdown

The Federation Party ACT wants a new distance education school in Canberra

Chairperson of the ACT Federation Party and candidate for Brindabella Jason Potter said the party wanted to establish a privately run distance education school. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

The Federation Party ACT will push for a new, privately run distance education school if it wins a seat in the upcoming territory election.

The minor party's education spokesman and candidate for Brindabella Jason Potter said establishing the distance high school would create jobs, fill an education gap for children who don't fit into mainstream school while providing a new revenue stream.

The proposal has not been costed, but Mr Potter said enterprises, such as existing private training providers, independent schools or private universities, would bid in a tender process facilitated by the government.

The school would be licensed to operate across Australia and globally.

"Public schools and private schools struggling to cope with neurologically diverse students," Mr Potter said.

He expected the tendering process to take six to eight months, followed by a registration process of 18 months.

"It would happen within this next election cycle. It's not a pie in the sky perspective."

Mr Potter said the policy would be part of any agreement with a major party to form government.

Education Minister Yvette Berry said the policy would make no difference to Canberra families.

"There is a registration process for any organisation that wishes to establish a non-government education service.

"ACT Labor does not agree that school education should be used for generating private profit."

A Liberal spokeswoman said the party was making a case for a majority Liberal government.

The 2020 election is the first time the Federation Party ACT will be running candidates in the ACT.

The party is an amalgamation of several minor parties and contested the Northern Territory and in the Eden-Monaro byelection.

Mr Potter said the party's policies were based on community consultation through surveys, door knocking and discussions with community groups.

Mr Potter worked in a vocational education role at a Christian private college, Australian College of Ministries, for eight years. He's currently studying a psychotherapy course at the Christian counselling training organisation, the Australian Institute of Family Counselling.

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