Max Chandler-Mather (Griffith, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) only 1.3 per cent of public schools nationally receive their full schooling resource standard funding, while 98 per cent of private schools are currently overfunded;

(b) in Queensland this year, public schools will be underfunded by $1.7 billion, which is approximately $3,000 per student;

(c) schools like Indooroopilly State High School, in the electoral division of Ryan, are so overcrowded that students do not go to the bathroom because the lines are so long; and

(d) public schools should be genuinely free for all students; and

(2) calls on the Government to make public schools genuinely free and immediately lift funding to deliver 100 per cent of schooling resource standard funding to every public school in the country.

If politics is about choices, why is it that this Labor government chooses low taxes for billionaires and big corporations and then chronically underfunds public schools? We know that, right now, only 1.3 per cent of public schools across Australia are fully funded under the Gonski scheme, and that's really only the schools in the ACT. This year, Queensland public schools will be underfunded to the tune of $1.7 billion. In my electorate of Griffith, that's $53 million in 2022, which means that schools like Cavendish Road State High School is underfunded by $4.8 million, Balmoral State High School is underfunded by $2.4 million, Whites Hill State College is underfunded by $2.5 million and Narbethong State Special School is underfunded by $28,000 per student.

This has awful impacts on our public education system, and it beggars belief when Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and when fossil fuel corporations and big corporations like Coles and Woolworths and the big banks have record profits—the Commonwealth Bank alone recorded a $10 billion profit. That $10 billion is enough to fully fund public schools, but it's going into the coffers of the Commonwealth Bank in the form of profit instead. The government does have the power to raise taxes on those big corporations and fully fund our public schools but, instead, they choose low taxes on big corporations and chronic underfunding of public schools.

The impacts are many and disgraceful, frankly, in a wealthy country like Australia. We know that, over the next few years, 40 per cent of public schools surveyed are going to run out of space. There's talk about mould in classrooms and air conditioners that don't work. But, more importantly in a way, it deprives students and teachers of the time and resources they need to provide the best education they can. Ask any public school teacher and they'll tell you they're chronically overworked, classroom sizes are too big and, often, they're having to dip into their own pockets just to cover the basics to make those schools function.

The idea of free public education in Australia is a bit of a lie. Every parent knows—or the vast majority of parents know—that schools are going to ask them to pay voluntary student fees, which, if they don't pay, often means that their kids don't get to participate in sport or any of the other extracurricular activities. This means, right now, we have a system where parents of public school students are having to pay extra just to make the schools function because the federal government refuses to fully fund public education.

What we know is that, over the last few years, the Productivity Commission has found that real per-student government spending on private schools grew by 3.7 per cent a year in the decade to 2022. That's 60 per cent higher growth than for public schools, which only saw a 2.3 per cent annual increase. So there was more of an increase in funding for private schools than there was an increase in funding for public schools. We know that five private schools spent, over a decade, more money on their facilities than did 3,000 public schools. That is deeply unacceptable—again, in a country like Australia that apparently prides itself on equal opportunity and its egalitarian society.

The other impacts are many. If you have a situation in a cost-of-living crisis where parents have less capacity to pay—especially in working-class or poor areas——it just means those public schools get less funding. What that means is that teachers can't be paid as much, schools can't hire as many teachers as they need to hire and, so, we have a flow-on effect where teachers are being chronically overworked, experienced teachers are becoming burnt out as a result of having to deal with much-too-large classes and much-too-high workloads, and then we're losing experienced teachers, which puts more of a burden on the new teachers coming in, which increases the burnout, and that's partly what has caused the massive teacher shortage across Australia. We know that it's tough for those teachers, especially in rural and regional areas and poor and working-class areas, and it's tough for those families who can't afford to pay more to the school to offset the chronic government underfunding. The teachers then have to deal with difficult situations in the classroom, but they don't have the funding or support to do it.

Despite all of that, public school teachers do a heroic job, as do P&Cs and student and parent committees in making up for that chronic underfunding. But why is it that so often the burden falls on teachers, students and parents to make up for the fact that the government has chosen, for whatever reason, low taxes for big corporations and chronic underfunding of public education? The frustration here is that they could fix this, they could tax big corporations and they could fully fund our public schools.

Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there a seconder for the motion?

Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Griffith for bringing on this private member's motion in relation to schooling resource standard funding because it gives us an opportunity to talk about how the Albanese government is determined to make our education system better and fairer, particularly for electorates like mine, in which regional schools and many remote schools have been, for a long time, underfunded. Sixteen billion dollars is being invested as additional funding, representing the biggest ever increase in Commonwealth funding to public schools. Our government is committed to working with the Northern Territory government to get every school to 100 per cent of its fair funding level. Most schools across Australia have already had the formulas in terms of Gonski at a level. Could we put in more resources and funding? Absolutely, but, if you look at the Northern Territory alone, particularly our remote communities, if we talk about discrimination, for the Northern Territory remote schools, Gonski funding was negligible.

I'm pleased to be part of a government that is looking at lifting those levels so that we can target those schools to try and get better outcomes in terms of attendance and give a lot of those Aboriginal kids in remote communities a future and hope for a future. On 13 March the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory government signed a statement to increase funding to all public schools in the Northern Territory to 100 per cent of the schooling resource standard by 2029. That is significant because, as I said, particularly for remote communities and regional towns, the funding was simply not there. Under the agreement, the Australian government will invest at least an additional $737.7 million from 2025 to 2029 in Northern Territory public schools. The Northern Territory government has committed to invest an additional $350 million over the same period. That is a substantial injection of funding into public schools in the Northern Territory.

This funding will be targeted to the most disadvantaged schools first and will implement important reforms that will improve student outcomes. Our most disadvantaged students will greatly benefit from this extra funding. The more funding that is available, the more teaching resources we can get into classrooms and the more likely we can get our kids to focus and learn. There are many challenges facing the Northern Territory, with high concentrations of disadvantage. I agree with the member for Griffith: we have to support our teachers, and we've got a lot of teachers doing it tough, particularly in our remote communities. When I travel throughout the Northern Territory and my electorate, I have to applaud those teachers. They are doing a fantastic job, and they do it tough, but they stay there because they care, because they want to give those kids a future. That's what we've got to work towards.

Is the funding good enough? It never is, because we're starting from a very low base. But I am pleased to be able to stand with Linda Burney, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, and Jason Clare, the federal Minister for Education, and the $40 million that was invested into Central Australia, particularly to look at learning on country and to be able to turn around the really tough statistics in terms of getting our kids to go to school every day and to give them a better start in life. Is it perfect? No, it's not. But it is a start, and I think that it is important to recognise that finally there is a government that cares, that does want better outcomes, particularly for Aboriginal kids in remote communities, so that we can give them hope and a better future through an education system that is going to be inclusive for them, because the education system to date has been exclusive. It has not included our kids. I think that this extra funding, the better resourcing, the infrastructure and the support to teachers and to families means better outcomes for those kids and for their future.

Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Public schools in this country are in crisis. Only 1.3 per cent of public schools nationally receive their full schooling resource standard funding. Meanwhile, 98 per cent of private schools are currently overfunded. This federal government spends more money on private schools than on public. This underfunding of public schools is having real consequences for students across my electorate and across Australia.

Ryan has a relatively high proportion of school students attending public schools, and these are excellent schools with fantastic teachers, but they're not being funded to keep up. We have the real numbers on the funding shortfall. We know how much each school falls short of the schooling resource standard: Ashgrove State School with a $1.7 million funding shortfall; Kenmore South State School with a $2.5 million funding shortfall; Ferny Grove State High School with a $5.3 million funding shortfall; The Gap State School with a $1.5 million shortfall; Mitchelton Special School with a $1 million funding shortfall, which is almost $12,000 per student; Ironside State School with a $2.3 million funding shortfall; and the biggest funding shortfall is at Indooroopilly State High School, which is underfunded by a whopping $6.3 million. This has had a drastic consequence on the school and the students. Students queue for the bathroom for their whole lunchbreak because there aren't enough toilets. Some students haven't even seen the inside of a science lab because there aren't enough specialised classrooms. They've lost their student support space, and huge parts of their oval have been lost to demountables. They almost had to forgo a library entirely to make room for more classrooms. Fortunately, we managed to stop the loss of the library thanks to the great work of the P&C, assisted by the state member for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, and my office. This achieved just a few extra demountables, a stopgap that will not last.

The state Labor government has callously refused to commit to any new classrooms. It's beyond shameful that our community has had to beg for the bare minimum—somewhere for the kids to sit for class, extra temporary classrooms. Meanwhile, private schools are raking in cash from the government and building elaborate drama theatres, state-of-the-art science labs, Olympic swimming pools and the like. Private schools spend more than double the amount per student that public schools spend on infrastructure, and the government will hand out a further $2.7 billion over the next decade, while public schools will get nothing.

The way we fund public schools in Australia is utterly broken. Every child deserves to have access to a good education, no matter their background. It's fundamental for their wellbeing, and it should be regarded as an investment in Australia's future, not a cost that governments try to weasel their way out of paying. And yet, this year in Queensland alone, public schools will be underfunded by $1.7 billion. That's $3,000 per child. That's not just a dollar amount for our communities; that's kids missing out on music classes, sport or a functioning library. It's not having enough classroom teachers and teacher aides. Our amazing teachers and teacher aides, already overworked, are picking up the slack and regularly working weekends. It means that children who need extra support to learn go without. In fact, public special schools are underfunded by a minimum of $11,000 per student, and, tragically, for some schools the figure is much higher. That's not to mention increasing out-of-pocket costs for parents for supposedly free public schools—thousands of dollars every year for each student for laptops and iPads, stationery, textbooks and excursions. It's unacceptable that parents are having to close this funding gap due to government failure.

This federal government refuses to increase its meagre investment in public schools, but the money is there. They're bragging about an $18 billion budget surplus. They're spending tens of billions of dollars every year on fossil fuel subsidies that make the climate crisis worse and on investor tax concessions that make the housing crisis worse. They're forecasting almost half a trillion dollars on nuclear submarines, and yet our children are forced to learn in overcrowded classrooms in overcrowded schools without access to basic facilities. It's utterly shameful.

Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I stand before you to share a vision that will shape the future of our nation—a vision of an education system that is not only better but also fairer for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances. The Albanese Labor government is determined to transform our education system and ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed. Our commitment to education is demonstrated by our pledge of an unprecedented $16 billion in additional funding for public schools.

The Albanese Labor government is working closely with states and territories to bring every school to a hundred per cent of its fair funding level through the better and fairer schools agreement. In collaboration, we can ensure that every student, regardless of where they live, receives the support they need to thrive. As our federal Minister for Education has emphasised, funding is critical, but so is what it is spent on. The better and fairer schools agreement will tie funding to reforms designed to improve student outcomes, making sure that every dollar spent has a meaningful impact.

I thank the member for Griffith for raising public school infrastructure, and I reiterate that, in addition to this substantial funding increase, the Albanese Labor government is also investing more than $284 million for school infrastructure through the Schools Upgrade Fund.

A division h aving been called in the House of Representatives

Sitting suspended from 10:26 to 10: 40

This investment will create better learning environments, ensuring our schools have the facilities they need to support student success.

In 2024, Commonwealth funding for education has grown from $27.8 billion to $29.2 billion—a 4.9 per cent increase from 2023—specifically for public schools. This includes a rise from $10.8 billion to $11.3 billion. These numbers reflect our unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student has access to quality education. Currently we are negotiating the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement with states and territories. This agreement is a crucial opportunity to ensure that Commonwealth funding is tied to meaningful reform. As Minister Clare has pointed out, almost every new job created in today's world will require students to finish school and pursue further education. This is why the Albanese Labor government is determined to support students from all backgrounds, helping them to catch up, keep up and stay in school.

When it comes to increasing funding for public schools, we have $16 billion on the table. Unlike others who might prefer a blank-cheque approach, we are focused on funding the most disadvantaged schools first and turning that funding into effective reforms. These reforms will help students catch up, keep up and complete their education, and education ministers have agreed that the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement will prioritise three key areas: equity and excellence, wellbeing for learning and engagement, and a strong, sustainable workforce. Ensuring every student has the opportunity to fulfil their potential is beneficial not only for them but also for our country. By tying funding to reform, we can make our education system better and fairer, closing the education gap in the process.

This is not just an investment in education; it is an investment in the future of our nation. We are making significant progress towards our commitment to achieving 100 per cent fair funding for every school. The Western Australian and Northern Territory governments have already signed statements of intent to reach this goal. For Western Australia, this means an additional $774.4 million dollars in public school funding from 2025 to 2029, ensuring that the most disadvantaged schools are fully funded first. By 2026 every child in Western Australia will attend a fully funded school. Similarly, the federal and Northern Territory governments have agreed to increase funding for all public schools in the Northern Territory to 100 per cent of the school resource standard by 2029. The Australian government will invest in an additional $73.7 million for 2025 to 2029, with the Northern Territory government contributing at least an additional $350 million. This agreement prioritises the most disadvantaged schools and increases the Commonwealth's share of funding from 20 per cent to 40 per cent by 2029.

The coalition's legacy in education has been one of widening gaps and declining outcomes. The Productivity Commission found that, under the coalition's schools agreement, the equity gap in schools widened significantly. Disadvantaged school students were three times more likely to fall behind, with 86,000 students not meeting basic literacy or numeracy standards. Attendance rates fell, high school completion rates declined, teacher shortages worsened and the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students grew.

Our vision is clear: by working together and committing to these reforms, the government, educators, parents and the community can make our education system better and fairer. (Time expired)

Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.