Poll: Defunding public schools could cost Abbott government

New polling suggests cutting Commonwealth funding from public schools would make undecided “swing voters” in marginal seat voters four times more likely to vote against the Abbott Government than for it.

A leaked Government green paper this week exposed a proposal to cut all Commonwealth funding to Australia’s public schools – $15 billion per year.

GetUp commissioned ReachTEL polling in six of the most marginal Coalition-held electorates in the country, Dobell (NSW), Reid (NSW) Petrie (QLD), Barton (NSW), Eden Monaro (NSW) and Capricornia (QLD), and the results suggest the move could cost the Coalition government.

GetUp Campaign Director Mark Connelly said: “Every Australian child deserves access to a quality education. But Tony Abbott and Chris Pyne seem hell bent on tearing down every rung on the ladder of opportunity – from uni to kindy. This marginal seat poll shows their attacks on education could cost them government.

Across all 6 marginal electorates 56% of self-identified “undecided” voters said they were “less likely” to vote for the Coalition if they cut federal funding for public schools, compared to only 13% who said they were “more likely”. 31% said their vote would not change. In all but one seat, the portion of undecided voters represents more than the difference in primary vote before the two major parties.

“The proposed cuts would devastate our public schools, endangering the future of two thirds of Australian children. It represents a bleak future of lower wages, lower tax receipts, higher unemployment, and greater reliance on welfare. No wonder they’re getting such poor marks from critical swing voters.”

GetUp’s Campaign Director Mark Connelly is available for comment.

Full poll results, including a breakdown by electorate and two-party preferred figures, are available here: www.getup.org.au/public-school-polling

GetUp’s petition calling on Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Education Minister Christopher Pyne to stop their attack on public schools has been signed by more than 32,000 Australians in a few days: getup.org.au/save-our-schools
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