Media release – Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia; Jeremy Rockliff, Premier; Jo Palmer, Minister for Education; Jason Clare, Federal Minister for Education, 25 September 2024
Australian and Tasmanian Governments agree to fully fund all Tasmanian public schools
All Tasmanian public schools will be fully and fairly funded by the Albanese and Rockliff Governments following a historic agreement signed today.
Both governments have signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and agreed to increase funding for all public schools in Tasmania to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
Tasmania has become the third state or territory to sign on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.
Currently, the Commonwealth provides 20 per cent of the SRS for Tasmanian public schools. This will now increase to 22.5 per cent by no later than 2029.
The Tasmanian Government, as the primary funders of Tasmanian public schools, will increase its contribution to 77.5 per cent of the SRS by no later than 2029.
The Agreement signed today will be followed by a Tasmanian Bilateral Agreement, which will tie funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, including:
- Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks to identify students in the early years of school who need additional help
- Initiatives that support wellbeing for learning – including greater access to mental health professionals
- Access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning
- Initiatives that strengthen teacher and school-leader wellbeing.
The Bilateral Agreement will also set out the specific timing of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ increases in SRS funding shares to get to full and fair 100 per cent funding level as soon as possible but not later than 2029.
Currently, no public schools in Australia, except for schools in the ACT, are at the full and fair funding level.
This announcement follows Western Australia and the Northern Territory each signing on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, delivering record funding to their public schools.
The Albanese Government welcomes Tasmania’s decision to work together to fully fund public schools.
The Government is committed to working with all states and territories to get all public schools on a path to 100 per cent of the SRS.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“I know firsthand the power of a good quality education.
“I want to make sure that every student in Australia, no matter where they live and learn, receives every opportunity.
“Today’s landmark agreement means every public school in Tasmania will be fully and fairly funded.
“This is a national priority that can only delivered when the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments work in partnership.
“That’s why my Government has put $16 billion in extra funding for public schools on the table – the biggest ever increase in Commonwealth funding to public schools.”
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff:
“Tasmanians deserve every opportunity in the world, no matter where they live or what their parent’s income is.
“Today’s deal between the Tasmanian and Australian Governments ensures public schools will be fully funded.
“Additional funding will now flow to Tasmanian schools from 2025, with up to an additional $300 million invested into our public schools over the next five years.
“We have been transforming Tasmania’s education system over the past decade, and this funding partnership is the next step in delivering for young Tasmanians.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“This is a massive day for public education in Tasmania.
“Tasmania’s decision to work with the Albanese Government to fully fund public schools will deliver a better and fairer education system for Tassie.
“This agreement means that all schools in Tasmania will be fully funded and that funding will be invested in reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.
“I look forward to working with all states and territories to properly fund our schools and build a better and fairer education system for all Australians.”
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Education Jo Palmer:
“The Tasmanian Government is focussed on giving children the best possible start in life and learning.
“Our education system is critical in supporting our young people in gaining the skills they need to fully contribute to our community and economic future.
“Our Government has delivered significant generational change and we are committed to further improving our education system.
“This funding agreement will ensure our students are supported to get the educational outcomes they deserve so they can lead their best lives.
“We must move to full funding as quickly as we can, and that is my focus.”
Media release – Australian Education Union, 25 September 2024
ALBO’S FUNDING RIP-OFF STEALS FROM TASMANIAN STUDENTS
Tasmania’s educators have been left heartbroken and outraged today by Prime Minister Albanese’s shock announcement of a cloak-and-daggers deal that is set to rob this generation of Tasmanian children of the education funding they’ve been waiting for.
The PM today announced that the State and Federal Governments will each kick in another 2.5% of Tasmania’s Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) funding apiece, equivalent to $1000 per student each year, to “fully fund” Tasmanian schools – but the State Government will be allowed to continue stealing over $900 of funding from each student each year with the other hand.
Crucially, the PM has done nothing to close the loophole that will see $260 million stolen from students in the next five years and funnelled into overhead Departmental costs like capital depreciation and regulatory authorities like the TRB, which have nothing to do with student learning outcomes.
While Tasmanian schools facing an education crisis need full SRS funding urgently, the Governments won’t hand the money over now – instead, they’ll drip-feed it to schools over the next five years.
Educators have been calling for Tasmanian public schools to be funded to 100% of the SRS which, according to the Gonski Report, is the amount of money required to educate 4 out of 5 students to the minimum standard.
Quotes attributable to AEU Tasmania President David Genford:
“Unless 100% of the SRS is spent on schools, the State and Federal Governments cannot truthfully say that they have funded Tasmanian schools according to Gonski principles.”
“Another failure to deliver even the bare minimum funding required to educate most Tasmanian kids to the minimum standard is not a winning announcement. It is an abject failure of Government.”
“We should be talking about the kind of funding we need to educate all students to an exceptional standard, but the Government are still dragging their feet and refusing to do the absolute bare minimum. It’s heartbreaking. Our kids are worth more than this.”
“Unless schools get another $1000 for each student at the start of the next school year, it’s just more kicking the can down the road.”
“Educators, parents and students have every right to feel disappointed and betrayed by the State Government’s devastating decision to sell Tasmanian kids out.”
“Just this Monday Education Minister Palmer told Budget Estimates that she was standing firm with the other states against a deal that didn’t deliver full funding. Was Minister Palmer aware of this deal? Did she mislead Parliament or was she mislead by her Premier? How are educators expected to have confidence in a Minister who doesn’t have control of her own portfolio?”
Media release – Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years, 25 September 2024
Liberals roll over on school funding deal, and at what cost?
Tasmanian Labor welcomes any additional funding for Tasmanian public schools, but serious questions remain about whether the new school funding agreement is the best deal Tasmania could have secured.
The Tasmanian AEU President David Genford called the announcement a “kick in the teeth” and “very disappointing”, with funding being increased more slowly, the deal locked in for ten years, and an accounting loophole meaning 100% funding will never reach schools during the life of the agreement.
While some funding to Tasmanian public schools will increase, Education Minister Jo Palmer’s comments at a Budget Estimates hearing on Monday raise questions as to how the agreement was reached and whether it is the best deal for Tasmanian students.
Minister Palmer told the hearing “We firmly believe that we must see 100 per cent funding in our government schools and that the federal government should be providing that full 5 per cent, not 2.5 per cent, so we are standing with the other states and territories.”
What changed between Monday and Wednesday?
And what will the deal mean for the state budget handed down earlier this month? How will Tasmania’s share be funded? Will there be further cuts and efficiency dividends?
Given Tasmania’s precarious financial position, how many programs or projects in the 2024-25 budget are at risk because the government failed to secure a 5 per cent increase from the Commonwealth Government?
Media release – Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations (TASSO), 25 September 2024
Is this equitable education for all Tasmanian students or just “better than before”?
The Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations (TASSO) has responded to today’s announcement of a funding deal to improve desperately needed per-student funding in Tasmanian government schools.
John Allan, TASSO President said “We celebrate today’s joint federal and state announcement that there is a bilateral agreement to reach 100% Schooling Resourcing Standard (SRS) funding for Tasmanian government schools by 2029”.
Today’s announcement relates to the SRS, which is establishes a baseline per-student funding level in schools that, when fully funded, is required to educate 80% of students to the above the minimum national education standard.
“Every child deserves their schooling to meet the minimum educational standards, but remember the SRS is a bare minimum to successfully educate only 80% of students to the national standard.” continued Mr Allan. “Whilst an improvement, this new announcement is not fully equitable and there is certainly scope to do better”.
The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement continues to contain an accounting loophole that equates to 4% of the SRS. “That’s 4% of funding that does not go directly toward students’ education in government school, it could be supporting intervention for students lagging behind their peers, extension programs for students excelling, supports for teachers, or resources to support the curriculum. It’s not swimming pools and gymnasiums! In an equitable agreement the 4% loophole would be abolished” Mr Allan noted.
“To adequately educate students TASSO support the abolishment of the clause so as to truly fund all schools to the full resource standard.” said Mr Allan. “Continuing the unfair division of funding continues to foster unnecessary divisions between government and non-government schools.” Mr Allan reiterated.
When asked what this announcement mean for families, Mr Allan stated “Simply put, if your children started kindergarten prior to 2015, their entire education in a government school will have been underfunded according to the government’s own formula developed 13 years ago”.
“Only students born around now will enter a schooling system that is, pending removal of account loopholes, fully funded” Mr Allan concluded.
Media release – Jo Palmer, Minister for Education, 25 September 2024
Upgrades to teacher residences prioritised
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is ensuring we can continue to attract high-quality teaching staff to our regional and remote areas, with planning now underway for upgrades and priority works to 14 residences in Queenstown.
As part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we’ve committed $15 million to rebuild or upgrade teacher residences across Tasmania.
Minister for Education, Jo Palmer, said our remote and regional areas can often face challenges when recruiting teachers.
“We know there is a national shortage of teachers and Tasmania is not immune to this issue,” Minister Palmer said.
“There are currently 132 residential properties for teachers across the State, many of which are not meeting the needs of our principals and teachers.
“By providing modern, fit-for-purpose residences for our teachers, we can help ensure that we encourage educators to stay in our regional and remote areas long-term.”
The works to upgrade 14 residences in Queenstown are scheduled to begin over the leave period in late December this year.
Our Teacher Residences Program will also see construction commence on up to 22 new residences progressively over the next six years, and these new residences will be located in our greatest demand areas, including the west coast, Scottsdale, Smithton and Flinders Island.
The design and location of the new residences will be determined in consultation with schools and their staff, with the tender for the first tranche of new residences expected to be released in the second half of 2025.
The Government’s investment in rebuilding and upgrading teacher residences is in addition to the financial incentives already in place for teachers who commit to working in isolated schools including King Island District High School, Flinders Island District High School, Strahan Primary School and Zeehan Primary School.
