Premier must fight for Gonski funding at COAG

Premier Will Hodgman will meet with Premiers and Chief Ministers at COAG tomorrow and securing Tasmania’s $80M of Gonski school funding must be a priority, the AEU said today.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has confirmed that Malcolm Turnbull’s plan to stop the rollout of Gonski will deny Tasmanian schools between $70M and $80M in much needed school funding.

Helen Richardson, AEU Tasmanian Branch President, said the Premier must ensure that Gonski is firmly on the COAG agenda.

“Parents and teachers want to know what Mr Hodgman’s plan is to secure the critically needed $80M in school funding and ensure that Gonski is firmly on the COAG agenda,” said Helen Richardson.

“Will Hodgman put education at the heart of his Government’s agenda and signed a pledge to fight for Tasmania’s Gonski funding but parents and teachers want to see the evidence of this commitment.”

“Parents and teachers want to know if Mr Hodgman will stand up for our schools and the resources we know that are needed to provide every child with a great education.”

Ms Richardson said Tasmanian teachers, principals and support staff were dedicated professionals but Government cuts and underfunding meant too many schools were ill-equipped to cater for the needs of every child.

“Too many of our students are already being held back because of government cuts and underfunding while other states pull ahead and this will worsen if Mr Hodgman is unable to secure agreement from the Prime Minister to honour Tasmania’s Gonski Agreement,” said Ms Richardson.

Gonski funding equips schools with the teachers, support staff, time for individual attention, and literacy and numeracy support to enable every student to realise their full potential.
Mr Turnbull plans to end the Gonski rollout in 2017 – two years short of full implementation denying Tasmanian schools $70M to $80M in funding in 2018/2019.

Mr Turnbull’s alternative to Gonski funding is a flat-rate funding model which would result in Tasmanian school’s funding being siphoned to states such as WA.
Harriet Binet, AEU Communications