THE HON BARNABY JOYCE

Deputy Prime Minister

Member for New England

Leader of the Nationals

 

SENATOR THE HON SIMON BIRMINGHAM

Minister for Education and Training

Senator for South Australia

 

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

 

 

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, says the Turnbull/Joyce Government’s new plan for schools would mean growing and better targeted funding and evidence-based programs for local students.

 

The record funding will see funding for Australian schools increase from $17.5 billion in 2017 to $30.6 billion in 2027, bringing total funding to $242.3 billion over the next decade.

 

The package includes funding for NSW government schools of $31 billion over the next ten years, an increase of 83.1 per cent, while non-government schools would be provided with total funding of $42.8 billion over the same ten-year period, an increase of 56.6 per cent, that would be real needs-based funding and would be tied to school reforms which are proven to boost student results.

 

“We’re delivering the real ‘Gonski’ needs-based funding model that Labor didn’t,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“We’re growing the record funding to NSW government schools by 83.1 per cent and non-government schools by 56.6 per cent over the next ten years and we’ll end Labor’s 27 special deals with states and territories, unions and non-government school leaders that distorted need and meant schools had to wait up to 150 years to get their fair share of support.

 

“Our plan will mean schools in the New England Electorate get their fair share of support and don’t suffer because of Labor’s special deals.

 

“There are around 130 government and non-government schools in the New England Electorate which are among the best in NSW and Australia so this funding will ensure they continue to provide top quality education for local students.

 

“While we know a strong level of funding for schools is vital, what’s more important is how that funding is used.

 

“David Gonski will lead a new inquiry into improving the results of Australian students focused on the most effective teaching and learning strategies to reverse declining results, and seek to raise the performance of schools and students.

 

“Our reforms will set our schools up for the future, and deliver fair, needs-based funding for all Australian students.”

 

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Turnbull/Joyce Government’s plan would transform Australian schools.

 

“Our plan will set students on the path to academic excellence and achieve real needs-based funding for students from all backgrounds, in every town and city, in every region and state, in every classroom,” Minister Birmingham said.

 

“Our changes will ensure all schools and states transition to an equal Commonwealth share of the resource standard in a decade, unlike the 150 years of inequity that current arrangements would entail.

 

“We’ll ensure schools are funded fairly. That means 24 schools in the nation’s highest socio-economic areas will receive a reduction in per-student funding over the next ten years and for the first time using the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data for Commonwealth funding decisions on students with a disability. This will ensure that need drives funding allocation, and end the different definitions of disability that exist between jurisdictions.”

 

For further details of the Turnbull/Joyce Government’s Quality Schools reform package are available at: www.education.gov.au/qualityschools