An additional $507.2 million for local Cowper schools is one step closer after the Coalition Government’s Gonski needs-based funding plan passed the House of Representatives.
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Nationals Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker said the Government’s needs-based funding reforms had been endorsed by David Gonski himself and would see local schools get an average of $5.76 million each, over the next 10 years.
“We’re one step closer to realising David Gonski’s vision for true, sector-blind needs-based funding for Australia’s schools,” Mr Hartsuyker said.
“I was stunned to see the Labor Party oppose the additional investment for schools. After years of claiming they supported needs-based funding they’re now turning their backs on a plan endorsed by David Gonski himself.
“While there has been a lot of misinformation being spread by some special interest groups about our Gonski schools funding plan, families and schools can see exactly how they stand to benefit from our plan for themselves by visiting the Schools Funding Estimator that uses official data”.
In a speech in Parliament supporting this legislation, Mr Hartsuyker spoke of the ways this funding would be used to reverse declining results.
“In recent years, despite increased funding, we have seen educational outcomes declining,” Mr Hartsuyker said.
“That is why the government is absolutely focused on putting in place policies that are going to improve educational outcomes over and above merely increasing funding.
“We are looking at a range of areas to improve learning performance such as strengthening teaching and school leadership, developing essential knowledge and skills, improving student participation and parental engagement … and building better evidence and transparency.
“There will be initiatives to keep our best teachers in the classroom – and nothing affects the outcomes in the classroom more than the quality of the teachers we retain and the quality of the teachers we attract.
“These are not just financial reforms but they go to the heart of improving the educational outcomes that young people will receive.”
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Turnbull Government’s plan had been “backed by parent and educator groups from various states and sectors, by independent think tanks like the Grattan Institute and the Mitchell Institute and by David Gonski himself”.
“Labor has proposed no alternative except to continue the status quo of 27 special deals which distorts funding so that students in one state get more funding than students in another,” Mr Birmingham said.
“I welcome the commentary and support from different quarters that aren’t tainted by special interest as well as the open-minded and engaging approach of the Senate crossbench. Their approach stands in stark contrast to the hypocrisy, crass negativity and outright lies being told by Labor.
“The Labor Party needs to explain why they voted to see Government schools receive at most 4.7 per cent legislated funding growth compared to the Coalition’s plan for 5.1 per cent average annual increases and why, after invoking his name for years, they are going against David Gonski's endorsement of the Coalition’s plan?”