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Coalition will tie federal Gonski reform contributions to CPI Coalition will tie federal Gonski reform contributions to CPI
(35 minutes later)
The Abbott government has signalled it will avoid the biggest increases in school funding planned under the Gonski reforms by tying future Commonwealth contributions to the consumer price index.The Abbott government has signalled it will avoid the biggest increases in school funding planned under the Gonski reforms by tying future Commonwealth contributions to the consumer price index.
The Coalition promised before the election to match only the first four years of the former government’s landmark reforms.The Coalition promised before the election to match only the first four years of the former government’s landmark reforms.
The reforms were based on providing a base level of funding for each student to be topped up with student loadings according to need, but the Coalition repeatedly questioned the plan’s affordability. Labor’s biggest increases were planned in the final two years of the six-year phase-in period.The reforms were based on providing a base level of funding for each student to be topped up with student loadings according to need, but the Coalition repeatedly questioned the plan’s affordability. Labor’s biggest increases were planned in the final two years of the six-year phase-in period.
Budget papers show the government plans to increase school funding by just $54.1m in 2017-18, which would effectively freeze school funding at the 2017 level in real terms.Budget papers show the government plans to increase school funding by just $54.1m in 2017-18, which would effectively freeze school funding at the 2017 level in real terms.
“From the 2018 school year onwards, total school funding will be indexed by the consumer price index, with an allowance for changes in enrolments,” the budget says.“From the 2018 school year onwards, total school funding will be indexed by the consumer price index, with an allowance for changes in enrolments,” the budget says.
This amount shows as an increase not a cut because the largest planned Gonski expenditure was outside the four-year cycle covered by the Labor government’s final budget.This amount shows as an increase not a cut because the largest planned Gonski expenditure was outside the four-year cycle covered by the Labor government’s final budget.
The Australian Education Union's federal president, Angelo Gavrielatos, said the government was effectively abandoning the Gonski reforms.
“By failing to honour the Gonski agreements beyond 2016-17 and cutting indexation this government has shown its hand. It is intent on turning its back on the most disadvantaged students,” Gavrielatos said.
“Public schools which educate the overwhelming majority of disadvantaged students will be disproportionately affected.”
The education minister, Christopher Pyne, sought to highlight the total amount of school funding in the short term.The education minister, Christopher Pyne, sought to highlight the total amount of school funding in the short term.
“The Abbott government is honouring its commitments and investing record recurrent funding of $64.5 billion in government and non-government schools over the next four years,” Pyne said.“The Abbott government is honouring its commitments and investing record recurrent funding of $64.5 billion in government and non-government schools over the next four years,” Pyne said.
The government has found an extra $245m over five years to continue the national school chaplaincy program until at least December 2018.The government has found an extra $245m over five years to continue the national school chaplaincy program until at least December 2018.
The budget earmarks savings of nearly $20m over five years by finding efficiencies in the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, but then allocates $5m to the same body to continue a scheme that funds non-government education authorities to improve the quality of education.The budget earmarks savings of nearly $20m over five years by finding efficiencies in the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, but then allocates $5m to the same body to continue a scheme that funds non-government education authorities to improve the quality of education.
The government will save a further $21m over five years by abandoning a quality teaching and learning measure outlined by the former government in its final economic statement.The government will save a further $21m over five years by abandoning a quality teaching and learning measure outlined by the former government in its final economic statement.
The budget also earmarks nearly $10m for a one-year trial of early exposure to languages other than English through online language learning programs.The budget also earmarks nearly $10m for a one-year trial of early exposure to languages other than English through online language learning programs.
Pyne said the government was also meeting an election promise to provide $2m for the development of new languages curriculums for foundation to year 10.Pyne said the government was also meeting an election promise to provide $2m for the development of new languages curriculums for foundation to year 10.
“Foreign language learning has fallen off the agenda in recent years,” Pyne said.“Foreign language learning has fallen off the agenda in recent years,” Pyne said.
“It is crucial that Australia invest in language education to ensure our students are not left behind.”“It is crucial that Australia invest in language education to ensure our students are not left behind.”