Sam Lim (Tangney, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Pearce for moving this motion. Education can change people's lives and offer so many opportunities. I, for one, am very grateful for my education, and I am full of gratitude to my maths teacher, Mr Lee Yau Ting, who financially supported my last two years of senior high school fees in Malaysia. Without his support, I would not have been able to complete my senior high school education.

I am proud that all the schools in Tangney consistently deliver high-quality education. We have a world-class education system here in Australia, yet there are no public schools outside the ACT that are at a full and fair funding level. The Albanese Labor government recognises that every child deserves access to high-quality education, regardless of their background or postcode, and we are determined to make Australia's education system better and fairer. The commitment that this government has made is to work with all states and territories to get every school to 100 per cent of its fair funding level in the next National School Reform Agreement, which is being negotiated this year. Knowing that this government prioritises education is important to me and my constituency. Finally, there is action in this space.

This is coupled with the information that has come from the Productivity Commission, which found that the equity gap in schools widened under the coalition's schools agreement signed by the member for Cook. It is unfortunate that it shows that, under the coalition's schools agreement, students from disadvantaged backgrounds were found to be three times more likely to fall behind and that 86,000 students didn't meet either the basic literacy standard or numeracy standard—but not under the Albanese Labor government.

I'm proud that, in my home state of Western Australia, the state government was the first to sign a statement of intent to ensure that every school in Western Australia receives full and fair funding. There will be an investment of an additional $777.4 million from 2025 to 2029 in Western Australian public schools. It is under this agreement that the most disadvantaged schools will reach full and fair funding first, in 2025, and that every child in Western Australia will attend a fully funded school in 2026. This is something to be celebrated, and I would like to commend the Western Australian government on taking up this historic agreement with the Albanese Labor government.

Importantly, the National School Reform Agreement is tied to reforms, as informed by the Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System. It advised on key reforms related to equity, wellbeing and the teacher workforce. It will be focused on driving real and measurable improvements to students' experience and will further support student outcomes and wellbeing with specific reforms, subject to negotiations with each of the states and territories.

The next school agreement is our opportunity to make our education system better and fairer, and tying funding to reforms is the best thing we as a government can do to close the education gap. Full funding is just the first step, but it's a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the Albanese Labor government and the Western Australian government in prioritising education as a fundamental right for all children. It is a shining example of what can be accomplished when a government prioritises education and invests in the future of its citizens. Together let us continue to advocate the rights of every child to receive a high-quality education and let us continue to invest in the future prosperity of our nation.

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