Rather than being schools operated by churches, future publicly financed denominational schools will generally only be required to simply provide opportunities for religious education, activities and observances - perhaps outside regular school activities and without public financing. The legislature could permit single religion schools with the right to direct the teaching of aspects of curriculum affecting religious beliefs, student admission policy and the assignment and dismissal of teachers. However, it is improbable many would survive for very long, especially outside urban environments. Religions will be deprived of the right to governance, and proportionate funding, except to a limited degree in uni-denominational schools the legislature sees fit to approve. Reforms which have now been agreed to could have been implemented for the coming year, and many should have been years ago.
Reform has overwhelming public support, and government has financial control.
Immediately implementing restructuring for which a clear consensus exists would be the most promising and responsible course to take, benefitting from an atmosphere of cooperation rather than the destructive confrontation generated by the amending initiative. Agreement was almost reached before negotiations terminated. Government currently finances education, has the right to provide a public school system without any religious involvement, and has no obligation to spend any money on education as long as no religion is favoured. That, together with public support for reform objectives, gives it great leverage in requiring cooperation which would prevent the curtailment of choice and rights, and enable us to get on with the many other things essential to improve education. That probably has a lot to do with why we are having a referendum.