If you don't like how the table is set, turn over the table.

That's the iron law of politics according to Frank Underwood, the House of Cards protagonist played by Kevin Spacey.

This week Education Minister Simon Birmingham unleashed his inner Underwood by saying on live TV that some private schools are over-funded and may need to take a trim under a new funding deal.

With this plot twist, Australia's school funding debate - usually a predictable and partisan affair - became a lot more interesting.