The introduction of recurrent funding to non-government schools in Western Australia : National statesmanship or provincial pragmatism?

State aid to private schools has been a controversial issue in Australia since the beginning of European settlement. This was true in all colonies' and remains a national issue in the twenty-first century. At various times colonial governments chose to provide to private schools, principally those operated by the Catholic and major churches. However as the colonies grew and statehood loomed, the of the day sought to withdraw their aid from private schools and their funding on the growing non-denominational, public school systems.