2026-10-23
The Victorian Greens have criticised the Carroll Labor Government for celebrating a school funding deal that leaves public school students waiting years longer than promised for the bare minimum funding they need.
After becoming the last state in Australia to reach a long-term, full-funding agreement with the Commonwealth, Labor has confirmed Victoria’s share of funding won’t reach the minimum standard until 2031, and the Commonwealth’s not until 2034, meaning public schools won’t be fully funded for another eight years.
The delay comes after revelations Labor secretly pushed back its original 2028 commitment to 2031, denying Victorian public schools access to $2.4 billion in funding over the intervening years.
Despite Labor's claims that full funding could be brought forward to 2029, the agreement is heavily back-ended, with most additional funding not flowing until the end of the decade, meaning many kids in public schools now will never see the basic funding levels they need.
The Australian Education Union has warned the delays will shortchange Victorian public schools by hundreds of millions of dollars in the coming years.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell MP:
"After 12 years in government, Labor is patting itself on the back for a last-minute, second-rate deal that leaves our public schools waiting years longer than promised for the bare minimum funding they deserve.
"Let's be clear. This isn't some generous investment in public education. It's the minimum funding that governments themselves have agreed every child needs for a decent education, and Labor is delaying even the bare minimum.
"Every year of delay is another year of overcrowded classrooms, burnt-out teachers and students missing out on the education they deserve.
"An entire generation of Victorian kids will have gone from Prep to Year 12 without ever experiencing a fully funded public school, all under Labor's watch.”
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Spokesperson for Education, Anasina Gray-Barberio MLC:
"Just last week, principals warned they could be forced to cut school programs because they can't afford to operate without parents chipping in. That's the state of public education after 12 years of Labor.
“Instead of properly funding schools so families don't have to foot the bill, Labor is making kids wait years longer for the money they desperately need.
"Public education should be a great equaliser, not another casualty of Labor's misplaced priorities.
"The Greens are calling on Labor to stop shortchanging public school students and bring forward full funding. Our kids deserve properly funded schools now, not another round of broken promises."