Nick McKim: Gonski could be gonski

The Commission of Audit recommendations released today would, if adopted, mean the end of the Gonski education reforms.

“Scrapping the fifth and sixth years of the Gonski school funding increases would be one of the biggest missed opportunities in the history of Australian education,” Greens Education spokesperson Nick McKim MP said.

“Two thirds of the funding increases were due to come in year five and six, which the Commission has today recommended scrapping.”

“This would hit disadvantaged students the hardest, but the real question now is whether Tasmania’s Liberal majority government will commit to funding year five of Gonski in the upcoming state budget regardless of the Commonwealth budget.”

“Prior to the election Premier Will Hodgman signed a pledge which committed him to funding all six years of Gonski. Given the recommendations released today, he should remove uncertainty for our schools and publicly recommit to that pledge.”

Mr McKim was Tasmania’s Minister for Education and Skills when Tasmania signed up to the Gonski funding increases.
Nick McKim MP | Greens Shadow Education spokesperson