Media release – Jason Clare MHR, Australian Minister for Education; Jo Palmer MLC, Tasmanian Minister for Education, 14 March 2025
Tasmania signs on to updated school funding reform agreement
The Albanese Government and the Rockliff Government have signed an updated school funding and reform agreement.
As part of this updated agreement, the Commonwealth will provide an additional 2.5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to Tasmanian public schools, lifting the Commonwealth’s share to 25 per cent by 2034.
This adds to the 2.5 per cent increase to take effect over 2025-2026, which was agreed in late 2024.
This update will see around an estimated $83 million in additional Commonwealth funding to Tasmanian public schools over the life of the agreement.
When combined with the school funding agreement finalised in September last year, the Commonwealth will provide an additional $447 million to Tasmanian public schools over the life of the agreement.
As part of the Agreement, Tasmania has committed to removing the 4 per cent provision of indirect school costs, such as capital depreciation, so that Tasmanian schools will be fully funded by the end the Agreement.
This represents the biggest new investment in Tasmanian public schools by the Australian Government ever. This will be tied to reforms to help more students in public schools keep up, catch up and finish high school.
This includes more individualised support for students, mandating evidenced-based teaching practices and more mental health support in schools.
Funding will be tied to reforms in the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, including:
- Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks to identify students in the early years of school who need additional help.
- Accelerating the implementation of the school-based recommendations of Tasmania’s Lifting Literacy implementation plan, including a minimum schooling guarantee for reading across all schools in Tasmania.
- Support for students to come to school ready to learn, including greater access to mental health supports.
- Reducing absence at school by prioritising evidence-based approaches to improving attendance and strengthening re-engagement support programs.
- Establishing and strengthening relationships and collaboration with Tasmanian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and First Nations peoples and communities within Tasmania to support increased cultural safety and responsiveness in the Tasmanian education system.
- Support for VET specialist teachers and piloting incentive packages for attracting staff into remote and regional areas.
This means more help for students and more support for teachers.
This agreement builds on the previous agreement with Tasmania signed last year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“This agreement lifts the Commonwealth’s contribution to 25 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard for Tassie public schools.
“This investment is tied to real, practical reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.”
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Education Jo Palmer:
“This agreement is a huge win for Tasmanian students, which will see Tasmanian schools better off by an extra $83 million in Commonwealth funding over the next 10 years, in addition to record investment from the Tasmanian Liberal Government.
“By signing our original bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth last year, we were able to access funding earlier, while ensuring Tasmania would be no worse off if other states got a better deal.”
Media release – Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch, 14 March 2025
AEU Tasmania welcomes new public schools funding deal
The Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch has welcomed today’s announcement that the Albanese Government and the Rockliff Government have signed an updated school funding agreement.
This updated deal will see the federal government provide an additional 2.5% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to Tasmanian public schools, lifting the Commonwealth’s share to 25 per cent by 2034.
AEU Tasmania President David Genford welcomed the new agreement, saying this was a win for public school students and teachers who had been fighting for increased funding.
“We welcome this updated agreement for public schools in Tasmania and the additional spending it brings,” Mr Genford said.
“This announcement brings an additional $83 million in Commonwealth funding for Tasmanian schools, which will be life changing for students and teachers.”
“We are particularly pleased that this agreement also removes the accounting loophole that allows the Tasmanian Government to write off 4% of funding for non-school based costs that should be going directly to schools.”
With a federal election weeks away, Mr Genford said it was critical that this deal had the support of the federal Opposition, and all Tasmanian parliamentarians.
“Tasmania’s public school communities need certainty at this election, so we must hear from the Coalition on their position on public school funding,” Mr Genford said.
“Tasmanian schools have been underfunded for too long and we need Peter Dutton to publicly commit to honour this deal.”
“Public schools need confidence that the funding that has been announced today, is what they will receive. That’s why this deal needs bipartisan support.”
“We are calling on all Tasmanian federal Liberal parliamentarians to urgently clarify the Coalition’s position on this new, improved deal.”
“This deal finally puts Tasmanian schools on a pathway to full funding. We must ensure that this deal will be honoured by future governments no matter which party is in power.”
“Peter Dutton must commit to honouring all school funding agreements, and commit to providing Tasmanian public schools the funding certainty they need. Too much is at stake.”
Media release – TASSO, 14 March 2025
TASSO Welcomes Updated School Funding Reform Agreement
TASSO welcomes the joint announcement today by the State and Federal Governments.
“Today’s announcement around the updated education agreement addresses many of the issues TASSO identified previously, such as closing accounting loopholes, resulting in more funding going to frontline education delivery,” TASSO President John Allan said today.
“We look forward to uplifting the education of Tasmania’s next generation through this funding increase, which is expected to be rolled out progressively until 2034.”
“A full commitment to education funding is an investment in Tasmania’s long-term future, ensuring all students receive the support and resources they need to thrive.”
TASSO is further encouraged by the commitment to fully accept 13 of the 14 recommendations made in the Independent Education Review.
TASSO Welcomes Acceptance of Independent Education Review Recommendations
TASSO welcomes the announcement by Education Minister Jo Palmer, MLC, regarding the acceptance of the Independent Education Review findings.
“TASSO is pleased that the recommendations of the Independent Education Review have been largely accepted,” TASSO President John Allan said today. “We look forward to working with the Department to develop and implement these recommendations. We encourage the Department to place a strong emphasis on genuine engagement with School Association Committees and parents during this process.”
Media release – Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years, 14 March 2025
Federal school funding agreement welcomed – more budget impact clarity needed
Tasmanian Labor welcomes today’s school funding announcement, but is seeking more information on the impact on Tasmania’s budget bottom line.
We congratulate the Albanese Government for reaching this agreement before the Federal election and the certainty that provides.
Today’s update confirms the Federal Government will provide an additional $447 million to Tasmanian public schools over the time of the agreement, in combination with the deal reached last year.
The additional funding will be matched by an increase in state government funding, but given the length and nature of the agreement we don’t know by how much. With Premier Rockliff placing Tasmania in record debt, we do know it will be entirely funded through additional borrowings.
Given the state of the budget after 11 years of Liberal mismanagement, this lack of budget impact clarity is concerning, and is more evidence that Labor’s policy for 10 year debt and deficit projections should be included in every budget.
