Time for Premier to fight for Tassie’s Gonski money

The AEU today calls on Premier Will Hodgman to show the same commitment to securing the $136 million shortfall in federal Gonski funding for Tasmanian schools as he has shown to securing the state’s GST revenue.

“Will Hodgman says he’ll fight ‘tooth and nail’* for Tasmania’s fair share of the GST but he lacks ticker when it comes to fighting for the $136 million shortfall in federal Gonski funding for our schools,” said Terry Polglase, AEU Tasmanian Branch President.

“In the year since taking office, we’ve heard nothing from Premier Hodgman in pressing the case for the Abbott Government to honour the six year Gonski agreement. This inaction will cost Tasmanian students $136 million,” said Mr Polglase.

The Abbott Government continues to try and back away from its Gonski commitment and has to date only committed around one third of the federal funding for Gonski in Tasmania.

“When it comes to Premier Hodgman fighting for our share of federal Gonski money, the silence is deafening,” said Mr Polglase.

“Not only is Premier Hodgman squibbing on his pre-election promise**, he has taken the razor to school budgets with devastating effect.”

“Premier Hodgman has broken a core election promise to not sack teachers and he has savaged school budgets. These cuts have led to increased classes sizes and cuts to vital programs such as literacy and numeracy support.”

“Our students cannot afford these broken promises; it’s time for Premier Hodgman to step up and fight for the resources needed to give every Tasmanian child a high quality education.”

Tasmania has a signed, six year Gonski agreement. It sets out a shared funding commitment from the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments, to invest an additional $380 million into Tasmanian schools, on the basis of student need.

In Opposition, Will Hodgman signed a Gonski pledge to say, if elected, he would fight hard to see the Abbott Government contribute its full share. But the Abbott Government will only provide funding for four years and that means Tasmanian schools will miss out on $136 million over the fifth and sixth years.

**“Unlike Labor and the Greens, we won’t sack nurses, teachers or police. We’ll prioritise essential frontline services over other, less essential areas of Government.”

Will Hodgman, The Liberals’ Future Directions, 2012:
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/145253/20140314-0759/www.willhodgman.com.au/images/pdf/future%20dirctions%203%20-%20delivering%20the%20essential%20business%20of%20government.pdf

Further information:
Download a copy of Will Hodgman’s signed Gonski pledge:
http://www.aeutas.org.au/Portals/0/Images/Campaigns/Gonski/gonski%20plegde%20-will%20hodgman%2014.5.14.pdf
**Examiner, 10 April 2015, $132m in GST windfall, pg 1.
Terry Polglase, AEU Tasmanian Branch President