Pressure mounts on hold-out states over a school funding proposal as the federal government introduces a bill that could break the stalemate.
In an effort to more fairly fund public schools and boost the number of high-school finishers, the 10-year Better and Fairer Schools agreement proposes to increase commonwealth contribution to public schools and provide money for supports like catch-up tutoring.
The Australian Education Union and some state governments urge the Commonwealth to further increase its funding offer, as teachers will be unable to implement the plan without more resources.
Negotiations have been at a standstill for months but on Thursday, federal Education Minister Jason Clare introduced legislation that would facilitate the plan by enabling the Commonwealth to lift its share of public school funding.
“I’m determined to act,” he told the Today show.
“I disagree fundamentally with what the union is arguing, but I back our teachers every single day because they do such an important job.”
“Many teachers out there, if you ask them, will back these reforms.”
About two in three Australian students attend a public school, but the ACT is only jurisdiction where government institutions are funded to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard, which estimates the total public funding required to meet students’ needs.
The federal government currently provides 20 per cent of each public school’s Schooling Resource Standard, while most states contribute 75 per cent, leaving a five per cent shortfall.
As part of a plan to fully fund every private school, the Commonwealth offers to increase its contribution to 40 per cent in the Northern Territory and 22.5 per cent everywhere else, with the expectation state and territory governments make up the remainder.
Tasmania, Western Australia and the NT have all accepted while the other states, that are home to the nation’s biggest public school systems, refuse to lift their share to 77.5 per cent.
The federal government’s new bill is premature, Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe said.
“This can only be viewed as a cynical political move against states that have held firm for a full 100 per cent Schooling Resource Standard on behalf of their public schools,” she said.
The union has placed a work ban on implementing the Better and Fairer Schools agreement until there is a “genuine pathway” for all public schools to be fully funded.
The federal government has deeper pockets and can provide the extra help his state needs, NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
“We can’t settle for anything less,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said governments had to “get it right” and vowed to continue negotiations.
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