An additional $346 million for southern Gold Coast schools is one step closer after the Turnbull Government’s Gonski needs-based funding plan passed the House of Representatives.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills and Federal Member for McPherson, Karen Andrews, said the Turnbull Government’s needs-based funding reforms had been endorsed by David Gonski himself and would see local schools get a $10.8 million average boost each.
“We’re one step closer to realising a true, sector-blind needs-based funding model for Australia’s schools,” Mrs Andrews said.
“I was stunned to see the Labor Party oppose the additional investment for schools. After years of claiming they supported needs-based funding they’re now turning their backs on a plan endorsed by David Gonski himself.
“Every Labor Member should hang their heads in shame. Their vote says they think southern Gold Coast schools don’t deserve any more funding.
“We’re acting to clean up the 27 special deals the former Labor Government left us with, that Gonski Review panellist Dr Ken Boston said “corrupted” needs-based funding.
“While there has been a lot of misinformation being spread by some special interest groups about our schools funding plan, families and schools can see exactly how they stand to benefit from our plan for themselves by visiting www.education.gov.au/qualityschools and clicking through to the schools funding estimator that uses official data.”
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Turnbull Government’s plan had been backed by parent and educator groups from various states and sectors, by independent think tanks like the Grattan Institute and the Mitchell Institute and by David Gonski himself.
“I welcome the commentary and support from different quarters that aren’t tainted by special interest as well as the open-minded and engaging approach of the Senate crossbench.
“Labor has proposed no alternative except to continue the status quo of 27 special deals that distort needs-based funding and throwing more money at the situation which currently sees a disadvantaged student in one state get up to $2,100.
“The Labor Party needs to explain why they voted to see Government schools receive at most 4.7 per cent legislated funding growth compared to the Coalition’s plan for 5.1 per cent average annual increases and why, after invoking his name for years, they are going against David Gonski's endorsement of the Coalition’s plan?”
For further details of the Turnbull Government’s Quality Schools reform package are available at: www.education.gov.au/qualityschools
