Media release – Australian Education Union Tasmania, 1 August 2024

Tasmania needs NT-style Federal education funding deal to improve student outcomes

Tasmanian educators reject the Federal Education Minister’s funding ultimatum, renewing urgent demands for the Federal government to fully fund Tasmanian public schools.

“If the Albanese government are actually serious about improving education outcomes, they need to come to the table with a funding deal for Tasmania that is similar to the Northern Territory’s,” said Australian Education Union Tasmania State Manager Brian Wightman.

“While the NT have received a special intervention with the Federal government increasing their contribution to 40%, Tasmanian students face similar levels of disadvantage and barriers to NT students – the highest levels of disadvantage of any state.”

The Federal government have called for Aboriginal student outcomes to match those of non-Indigenous students as part of their Better and Fairer Schools Agreement reforms.

“Educators strongly support equity in education, but lifting student outcomes will require substantial investment in Tasmania where 9.8 percent of students identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, the highest proportion of students outside of the NT,” said Mr Wightman.

“Tasmanian families need a Federal Government committed to delivering 100% funding for Tasmanian schools, not political games designed to back out of providing even a minimum level of funding.

“Anything less than full funding, and anything less than 25% of that funding coming from the Federal government, would mean the Albanese government have broken their election promise to the students, families and educators of Tasmania.”

Educators congratulate the State government for holding the line against the Federal Education Minister’s unacceptable ultimatum on education funding.

Tasmanian children and educators are relying on the State government to continue holding the Federal government to their promises, but this also means they need to do their part,” said Mr Wightman. “That means closing funding loopholes that shortchange schools and delivering the resources our students need.

“Most of all, for the Rockliff government, this means no cuts to education in the upcoming State Budget, from curriculum services and Aboriginal education to the classroom.”