Federal Labor tried and failed to block the Government’s Gonski needs-based funding plan
which passed in the House of Representatives tonight.
National's Senator for Victoria, Senator McKenzie said the Government’s needs-based
funding reforms had been endorsed by David Gonski himself and promoted
initially by Labor when in Government with their largely un-funded Gonski model.
“We’re one step closer to realising David Gonski’s vision for true, sector-blind
needs-based funding for Australia’s schools.
This is fantastic news for country students with regional schools benefiting across the board, as the funding model recognises the challenges of teaching in rural areas with an additional loading.
“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.
Labor would have effectively cost schools in their own electorates millions of
dollars in additional Gonski funding.
Bill Shorten’ s electorate of Maribyrnong would have missed out on an average of $7.2 million
each in additional Gonski funding.
Other Labor seats in Victoria like Bendigo would miss out on $4.1 million each in additional Gonski funding, in Melbourne Ports, $6.7 million each, in Ballarat, $4.7 million, in
McEwen, $5.2 million, Hotham, $5.4 million and in Lalor, a massive $10.5
million dollars each in additional Gonski funding.
“Every Labor Member should hang their heads in shame. Their vote says they think local
schools don’t deserve any more funding. In fact, if Labor had got its way,
local schools would miss out on this tremendous funding boost
“We’re acting to clean up the 27 special deals the former Labor Government left us
with what 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 Gonski 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/Joyce 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.
“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