The Labor Party’s commitment to needs-based Gonski schools funding, made at its Federal Conference today, is welcome, but needs to be backed with funding for the full six years of the Gonski agreements, the AEU said today.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said the Conference had taken a step towards a fairer funding system for schools, based on student need.

"But we need a firm commitment from Labor to funding the full six years of the Gonski agreements, so that resources can go to the schools that need them."

“This is what the Gonski review recommended and this is what we need to close gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged schools.

“We know that in States where Gonski funding is being delivered, it is already producing results in schools. But we need the full six years to lift all schools to minimum resource standards, so all students can get a quality education.

“Tony Abbott wants to abandon the last two years of the Gonski funding agreements with the States – when over half the extra funding is to be delivered.

“This will see $3.9 billion stripped from schools in 2019 and 2020, the equivalent of 20,000 teachers in public schools alone.”

“Labor has now committed to the Gonski reforms in principle, but schools, teachers and students need to know that they can count on the extra resources they need being delivered.

Media Contact: Ben Ruse 0437 971 291