Australian Prime Minister Gives in on School Funding Following Lengthy Negotiations
Billions in additional federal funding are set to be injected into public schools following the Albanese government’s agreement to the demands of two states.
As the federal election approaches, the governments of Victoria and South Australia (SA) have now committed to signing 10-year school funding agreements with their federal Labor counterparts.
Based on the reforms outlined in the Gonski 2.0 review, states are mandated to contribute 75 percent of the Schooling Resource Standard for public schools.
The federal government will pitch in 20 percent, leaving a five percent gap.
While Western Australia (WA) and Tasmania had previously secured a 2.5 percent increase in federal funding by 2024, other states were holding out for a larger share.
These recent agreements will elevate the federal contribution to 25 percent by 2034, resulting in an extra $2.5 billion (US$1.6 billion) for Victoria and $1 billion (US$0.6 billion) for SA.
As part of the agreement, Victoria and SA have committed to discontinuing an “accounting trick” that allowed them to allocate four percent of public school funding towards indirect costs like capital depreciation.
These agreements will be associated with a bilateral pact that includes heightened national objectives for students graduating with a Year 12 certificate, proficiency in reading and numeracy, and improved attendance rates.
Speaking at the National Press Club on Jan. 24, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized, “Our increased funding comes with a focus on genuine reform that will yield tangible outcomes.”
Victorian Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll mentioned that after a year of negotiations, the federal government eventually gave in.
“It’s been a long process,” he remarked to journalists in Melbourne on Jan. 24.
“But the effort was worthwhile…there were moments where I doubted whether we would reach the five percent threshold. In fact, we were willing to renew the existing agreement.”
The allocated funds will directly support primary and secondary public schools, facilitating enhanced resources for students, teaching methodologies, and increased mental health assistance.
SA Education Minister Blair Boyer hailed the deal as a realization of the original vision outlined in David Gonski’s pivotal 2011 review.
“In South Australia, once fully implemented, the additional five percent translates to approximately $248 million (US$156.7 million) in extra funding for public schools annually,” he highlighted.
The Australian Education Union lauded the agreements as “transformational” for students, educators, and support personnel.
“Teachers, students, and parents will finally witness adequate funding for public schools to ensure every child can achieve their full potential,” asserted federal president Correna Haythorpe.
NSW and Queensland remain the last states yet to reach an agreement, and the prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to reaching a resolution with them.