2017-02-15
The Senate has called on Federal Education Minister to explain which South Australian schools are set to suffer as a result of the 2018 Gonski funding cliff, following an Australian Greens motion passing this afternoon.
“Schools across South Australia set to lose out on $335 million in funding as the Government carelessly heads toward the Gonski funding cliff next year. Education Minister Simon Birmingham needs to face up to the fact that schools in his state will face losing teachers and programs,” Australian Greens education spokesperson Senator Hanson-Young said.
“This government is in denial if it thinks that failing to fund the final two years of Gonski does not equate to ripping money away from schools, at a time when we need to be looking at a genuine, needs-based funding solution.
“Education Minister Birmingham is hopeful that parents, teachers and students in his home state of South Australia don’t find out that schools like Brighton Secondary School will lose $1.8 million in funding and Unley High School will lose $1.5 million. Even the schools in Minister Birmingham’s home town of Gawler face to lose more than $2.2 million.
“It’s time the Government faced up to the reality of the 2018 Gonski funding cliff and come to the table with a genuine, needs-based funding solution.”
Media contact: Amy Moran 0427 604 760
Media Release Education