The Albanese government must immediately release all school funding and reform agreements it has reached with the states and territories.
Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson said while the Coalition welcomes today’s news of an agreement between the Commonwealth and Queensland governments, the Prime Minister’s failure to disclose the details is unacceptable.
“The public has a right to know what deals have been struck behind closed doors, and what this means for teachers, students and their families,” Senator Henderson said.
“Without this transparency, there are serious concerns about what concessions may have been traded away, and when the promised funding will be delivered.
“I am also concerned the Albanese government is still at loggerheads with some states, given there is no evidence that bilateral agreements have been signed,” Senator Henderson said.
“Since the government announced its contribution to the Schooling Resource Standard for public schools would increase to 25 per cent, we have seen nothing but secrecy.
“I say to Education Minister Jason Clare who has repeatedly failed to comply with Senate orders to release bilateral agreements – what you are trying to hide?
“Mr Clare’s claim of public interest immunity has been rejected because the Senate has determined disclosure is in the public interest. It is time Mr Clare stopped playing politics with the future of our schools.
“With one in three students failing NAPLAN, the Coalition is also concerned Labor’s school reforms are inadequate. There is no mention of explicit instruction, crucial to raising academic standards, and no details as to how evidence-based teaching will be delivered in the classroom.
“As has been previously announced, a future Coalition Government will match dollar for dollar all school funding agreements entered into with the states and territories.”
Under the previous Coalition government, annual school funding nearly doubled – from $13 billion in 2013 to $25.3 billion in 2022.
The greatest growth was in Government schools – where Commonwealth funding grew by 58.4 per cent per student in real terms between 2013 and 2022.