2026-01-28
The Victorian Greens have expressed solidarity with teachers considering industrial action, saying the Allan Labor Government’s $2.4 billion cut to public schools has pushed educators to breaking point.
Victorian teachers are now the lowest paid in Australia, with many able to earn around $15,000 more simply by crossing the border to New South Wales - nearly $300 a week at a time when housing, groceries and everyday costs are soaring.
The bulk of the $2.4 billion of funding that Labor has delayed would have gone towards boosting school staff and increasing staff salaries.
The Victorian Greens secured an inquiry into public school funding which will begin at the beginning of this year.
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Education, Dr Tim Read:
“If you want to know why over 300 teaching positions are vacant, you can ask Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government. It’s no wonder when all teachers have to do is cross the border to NSW to get an extra $15k a year, that’s a pretty enticing argument.
“The problem will only get worse unless we increase teacher salaries to match their NSW counterparts. Inflation and cost of living are soaring and our teachers deserve better, instead they’re being locked into the lowest salaries in the country.
“Labor likes to call Victoria the education state, but right now they’re funding schools to fail. We can do better by our teachers, and by our kids.”