Public education cuts show warped priorities of Liberal Governments

• Liberal Governments applaud massive cuts to school funding
• Less support for students will lead to worse outcomes for Tasmania
• No answers on how much money has been cut over life of agreement
Deputy Labor Leader Michelle O’Byrne has questioned the priorities of the Turnbull and Hodgman Liberal Governments after they applauded a $68 million cut for Tasmanian public schools with the passing of Gonski 2.0.
“The inferior proposal means Tasmanian public schools will be $68 million worse off over the next two years,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“The people who deliver education have been excluded from the conversations to pass this bill and states have been left not knowing just how much money we’ve lost over the life of the agreement.
“This means less support for students, fewer resources in our classrooms, less teachers, less teacher assistants and – most damningly – worse outcomes for our kids.
“The Liberals don’t get that Tasmania’s social and economic future is linked to the educational outcomes of our students.
“What’s even more disappointing is the lack of resistance shown by the State Government, which has meekly accepted this massive blow to funding to support our children.
“Jeremy Rockliff was forced to concede that Gonski 2.0 is a cut but did nothing to fight for Tasmania’s fair share.”
“The Tasmanian Government is naturally disappointed that the quantum of funding included in the new Gonski 2.0 model is not as much as proposed under the original agreement.” (Jeremy Rockliff, The Examiner 13/6/2017)
“Tasmanians have now had it confirmed that the Liberals do not value proper funding for Tasmanian public schools and will not fight for the amount of education funding that was promised to the state,” Ms O’Byrne said.
This is on top of a $12 million cut to disability funding to schools.
“This is a cruel blow that students with a disability don’t deserve,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“At a state level, Labor has called for a review of the funding system for students with a disability, with the intention of moving away from the IQ based funding system.
“The current system is inadequate and we need to find a truly needs based funding model.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP Deputy Labor Leader Shadow Minister for Education