Australian Unions have welcomed today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that the Federal Government has secured new school funding agreements with Victoria and South Australia.
The new agreements were struck after lengthy negotiations over the level of funding to be provided by the Commonwealth and the States and will mean more federal funding flowing into state schools than ever before.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Better and Fairer Schools funding agreements will drive real reform and results for public school students in all states – apart from Queensland and New South where funding discussions are continuing.
The Prime Minister said the agreements are based on the principle of ‘no-one held back’ and ‘no-one left behind’ in public schools and would involve both levels of government ‘stepping up’ to deliver every child the best start at their local school.
The funding agreements lift the Commonwealth’s funding commitment to a full 25 percent of the Schooling Resource Standard by 2034.
Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus:
“This is a win for public school teachers, working parents, our kids, as well as teachers’ unions that have fought incredibly hard for this seismic shift in funding arrangements.
“It is a huge investment in the next generation of our kids who will now have access to a local school funded to the level needed for every child to reach their potential.
“Australian Unions call on all parties to support this historic funding package. Coalition Leader, Peter Dutton must give working parents a guarantee that he will honour all bilateral school funding agreements – in full – if he comes to office.
“We congratulate the Australian Education Union for their long advocacy of better schools’ funding. It may have been a long time coming but today marks a historic milestone moment.”
