PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AT RISK UNDER PETER DUTTON

Opposition leader Peter Dutton needs to come clean on public school funding after further questions about the Coalition’s policy were raised today.

Yesterday Mr Dutton said that the Coalition backed the agreement on public school funding signed by the Minns and Albanese Governments.

However today his Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume said on Sky News that it was not confirmed that the deal would be upheld by a Coalition Government, saying “that policy is not one that I've seen, it's not one that we've considered”.

Senator Hume also pushed the line that public school funding is the responsibility of the states saying: “I mean, let's face it, state schools are run by the states. They're the responsibility of the states.”

Mr Dutton needs to provide clarity on what the Coalition’s stance is on public schools funding for every state and territory, which he is yet to formally declare.

Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal President Correna Haythorpe said this was deeply concerning, when the Coalition has historic form in ripping up school funding deals when getting into power.

The Albanese Government has announced that by 2034 the federal government would increase its public school funding in every state from 20% to 25% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) – the minimum funding required to ensure that all children have the chance to succeed. That means, with the states also committing to increase their contribution to 75% of the SRS, that public schools will be fully funded.

This lack of clarity from the Coalition on their position shows that the funding deals are at risk under a Dutton Government.

“The Coalition has a dismal track record on public school funding deals, including cutting $30 billion from schools in 2014 only months after promising to honour Gonski school funding agreements in the lead up to the 2013 election.

“It is hard to believe that the Coalition will uphold the existing school funding agreements already announced by the Albanese Government, when the Shadow Finance Minister says she has not been consulted or considered this, and has put the responsibility for school funding onto the states.

“The AEU wrote to Mr Dutton last month, calling for the Coalition to match the Albanese Government’s commitment of lifting public school funding to 25 per cent of the SRS for every state. So far Mr Dutton has failed to respond to the letter.

“Public schools have been denied full funding for far too long. The Albanese Government’s commitment to full funding is at risk under a Dutton Government.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kylie Jensen – 0402 298 728