Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That that this House acknowledges the Government's commitment and actions to build a better and fairer school education system, by:

(1) putting an additional $16 billion of Commonwealth investment in public schools on the table as part of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, to deliver reforms focused on:

(a) lifting student outcomes;

(b) wellbeing for learning and engagement; and

(c) a strong and sustainable workforce;

(2) working to address the teacher shortage through the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan;

(3) delivering $284.3 million to schools to improve school infrastructure through the Schools Upgrade Fund; and

(4) providing $203.7 million in funding to support student wellbeing across every school in the country through the Student Wellbeing Boost.

As a former teacher in government schools and as someone who went through the government system at both primary and secondary level, I certainly want public education to be the best it can be. It is where the majority of Australian families send their children to school. It's accessible to everyone and should offer the best standards of teaching and learning. But the reality is that, to build a better and fairer education system, we need greater investment in public education. It's that simple. That's why our education minister has put $16 billion on the table to fairly and fully fund all schools. This would be the greatest ever increase in Commonwealth funding to public schools. The Albanese government recognises education is the most powerful catalyst to individual achievement, personal wellbeing and the prosperity of our nation.

Over 10 years, our $16 billion proposal will pay for half of the five per cent gap in the Schooling Resource Standard funding, with the states and territories paying the remainder. We're working closely with the states and territories to make this a reality. Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have already signed the agreement. But it's not a blank cheque. The dollars are tied to key reforms for students to catch-up, keep up, excel and, importantly, complete year 12. With this approach we want to close the education gap. It was a chasm under the former coalition government, who did nothing to increase educational standards.

Reforms, targets and transparency are at the heart of our agenda, which includes three priority areas: equity and excellence, wellbeing for learning and engagement, and a strong and sustainable workforce. To achieve these priority areas, the $16 billion of additional funding will be tied to the following reforms: year 1 phonics checks and numeracy checks to identify students who need extra help; intensive supports, such as catch-up tutoring, to help students who fall behind; greater wellbeing support for students, including counsellors, wellbeing coordinators and mental health workers; attracting and retaining teachers and school leaders through rewards and recognitions; and supporting our teachers and school leaders with quality curriculum resources developed in partnership with the teaching profession. Under these reforms, by 2030, we aim to significantly improve the proportion of students completing year 12, with an increase of 7.5 per cent from 2022 rates. This will be the highest rate of year 12 certification ever achieved.

We're also investing in crucial school infrastructure, particularly in fast-growing areas like mine in the electorate of Corangamite in Victoria. On top of the $16 billion proposal to achieve better and fairer education standards, the Albanese Labor government is investing more than $280 million through the Schools Upgrade Fund. In my home state of Victoria, $48 million is being provided for vital infrastructure projects. In my electorate, almost $260,000 in upgrades has been delivered to local schools as part of our Schools Upgrade Fund, including Drysdale Primary School, with $9,800 provided for new classroom IT equipment; Inverleigh Primary School, with $170,000 provided for an undercover basketball court; Mirripoa Primary School in Mount Duneed, with $40,000 provided for football oval fencing; and Surf Coast Secondary College, with $39,210 for outdoor fitness equipment.

The coalition ripped billions of dollars out of government schools. This is their legacy. The Albanese government's legacy will be different. We are committed to funding government schools alongside the states and territories to make sure that we have a public education system that provides the best outcomes for Australian students and for our future prosperity.

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

Is there a seconder for the motion?

Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A robust education system focused on educational outcomes and opportunities is the foundation of our society and the individual. As I said in my first speech, education is the foundation to create a great life. It's my fundamental belief that the crucial element to lift people out of poverty and for them to build a better life for themselves and their communities is a strong education system, a system focused on delivering tangible education outcomes for students to set them up for long-term success.

It is so important that we do all we can to lift student outcomes. Governments have invested billions in education. Unfortunately, results have been going backwards. It is important that we provide parents with choice in their education of their children. Personally, I was lucky to be raised by my mum, who was a teacher, and is still a teacher, in a public school. My wife is a teacher aide in one of our local schools, and so I've seen firsthand the impact that teachers and teacher aides have on the students. So I want to take a moment to pay tribute to all teachers, to all teacher aids—to everyone in the education system. They give so much back to our community.

Education is crucial, but, unfortunately, we have another motion on a Monday from the government that talks a big game but doesn't actually deliver, when you dig down into the detail. Let's use one example of the Minister for Education talking a big game but not delivering the actual outcome for students, for teachers and for the community. In 2022, the Minister for Education promised that Labor would provide $68.3 million to fund up to 2,260 high-achieving teachers who would be fast-tracked into classrooms most in need. Like always, it was a big announcement, and there was big hoopla about this important announcement. However, in September this year, the government quietly announced that it's going to spend $70.9 million and is only going to deliver 1,497 teachers. That is hundreds of positions short of what was promised. It's clear they have no plan to address the teacher shortages that are impacting communities right across Australia. Minister Clare has been missing in action on urgent reforms needed, such as teacher training, including the explicit teaching of behaviour in their curriculum.

But don't take my word for it that the federal Labor government are letting down the Australian people. Let's go to the Victorian ALP Minister for Education, Minister Ben Carroll. He was critical of the federal Labor government and their funding; he was asked to clarify whether the previous coalition government had done a better job in funding public schools, and Mr Carroll replied that yes, they had. The Victorian ALP Minister for Education confirmed that the former coalition government did a better job funding public schools than the current federal Labor government.

We see the words 'on the table' in the motion, and the reason this money is on the table is that the government have not been able to land agreements with Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT. We have a government again patting themselves on the back for the great job they're doing, but in reality they haven't delivered for five states and territories across the country.

As I said, education is crucial to our community. Recently, I was lucky enough to visit St Andrews and Wonga Park primary schools, which are new schools in my electorate. My daughter had fun making honey joys out of the recipe book from the Wonga Park Primary School. It was great to meet with Wonga Park Primary School principal, Julie, and St Andrews Primary School principals, Carol and Hayley. When I visited, Carol and Hayley and their students were busy serving and hosting the senior's festival high tea, an example of how our schools connect with the wider community.

And recently, I had the opportunity to celebrate the Christmas Hills Primary School and the Woori Yallock Primary School 150th birthdays celebrations. They were a great testament to those communities and what they've given to our community. Christmas Hills, in particular, is special. It was the school that my mum spent over a decade teaching at. It's a small school. It's a great school. That's why we've got to continue to back education outcomes in Victoria and across the country.

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

I would like to thank the member for Corangamite for this motion, which provides an opportunity to present a vision for an education system in Australia that is equitable and accessible for all students regardless of their backgrounds. The Albanese Labor government is committed to transforming education, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed. Our dedication is evident. Through an unprecedented pledge of $16 billion in additional funding for public schools, this funding aims to bring every school to 100 per cent of its fair funding level via the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. By collaborating with states and territories, we can ensure that all students receive the necessary support to thrive. As emphasised by our Minister for Education, funding is critical but so is what it is spent on. This agreement will link funding to reforms that enhance student outcomes and ensure that every dollar has a significant impact. Unlike others, who might prefer a blank-cheque approach, we are focused on funding the most disadvantaged schools first and turn that funding into effective reforms.

In addition to this funding, we are investing over $284 million in school infrastructure through the Schools Upgrade Fund, which will create an improved learning environment necessary for students' success. In 2024, Commonwealth funding for education will increase from $27.8 billion to $29.2 billion, reflecting our commitment to quality education for all students. Currently, we are negotiating the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement with states and territories. This agreement represents a crucial opportunity to tie Commonwealth funding to meaningful reforms. Minister Clare has highlighted consistently that nearly all new jobs will require students who complete school and pursue further education. Therefore, it is essential that we support students from diverse backgrounds and help them stay engaged in their education. We are focused on prioritising funding for the most disadvantaged schools first, ensuring that reforms help students catch up, keep up and complete their education. This agreement emphasises three key areas: equity and excellence; wellbeing for learning and engagement; and a strong sustainable workforce.

A significant challenge facing our education system is the ongoing teacher shortages. The Albanese Labor government has also launched the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, which includes a comprehensive strategy. This will ensure every student can fulfil their potential benefits by linking funding to reform and effectively addressing teacher shortages. We are making strides towards achieving 100 per cent fair funding for every school. Notably, the Western Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania governments have signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement to allow them to reach this goal. For Western Australia alone, this entails an additional $777.4 million in public school funding from 2025-2029, ensuring full funding for disadvantaged schools by 2026. Additionally, we are allocating $203.7 million to the Student Wellbeing Boost, which supports students' wellbeing across all schools in Australia. This initiative underscores our commitment not only to academic success but also to creating environments where students feel safe and supported.

The coalition's legacy in education has been marked by widening gaps and declining outcomes. The Productivity Commission reported that, under their governance, disadvantaged students were three times more likely to fall behind academically. Attendance rates dropped, high school completion rates declined, teacher shortages worsened, and disparities between advantaged and disadvantaged students grew significantly, and that's highlighted by their having only one speaker this morning on this motion. Our vision is clear: through collaboration and commitment to these reforms, including addressing teacher shortages, we can create an education system that is equitable for every student.

In conclusion, let us remember that the success of our students directly impacts the future of our nation. As a board member of eight schools in my electorate of Pearce, I understand that investing in education and ensuring we have quality teachers is crucial for fostering a brighter future for Australians. I thank all the teaching staff and teacher aides out in the communities. Together we can provide every student with the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to our country's growth and its development.

Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank my good friend, the effervescence and ever-industrious member for Corangamite, for moving this motion, as it gives me the opportunity to reflect on the Albanese Labor government's commitment to and action on education. As a former high school teacher, education is a subject that is close to my heart. I'm looking forward to speaking in support of the Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill this week. Education is the great transformational opportunity. Education has been a key priority for this government since the end of the antediluvian times, back in May 2022. Our reform focus has encompassed the whole spectrum from boosting support in the early childhood sector through to enabling greater access to postschool education—from ABCs through to PhDs and everything in between.

This focus was certainly needed when Labor came into government. After nearly a decade of coalition government, the sector was neglected, underfunded and underloved. Young Australians paid the price, with the Productivity Commission finding that the equity gap widened under the coalition's school agreement. To translate what that means, the LNP were white-anting our egalitarian society. This same schools agreement, the National School Reform Agreement, did not enable any public schools outside of the ACT to reach their set Schooling Resource Standard, thus ignoring the economic and social benefits that Gonski said would flow from such investment. The former government's flippant disregard for the Gonski recommendations from 2011 meant that public schools across the country were underfunded.

Remember, the Schooling Resource Standard is an estimate of the level of government funding that a school needs to meet the educational requirements of its students. Remember, all students take baggage from their parents and homes to school. Some is nice baggage, some is horrible baggage, but all students carry some of their home environment through the school gate each day. Under the coalition, students from disadvantaged backgrounds were found to be three times more likely to fall behind. Over 85,000 students did not meet basic literacy or numeracy standards. As a nation that values learning, this is a shameful record.

You can trust a Labor government to take action on inequity, and that is at the heart of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. It will replace the ineffective and damaging National School Reform Agreement at the end of this year and will run until the end of 2034. It will invest $16 billion to meet Gonski targets and to ensure fair school funding. That means every school will be achieving 100 per cent of its fair funding level. Under this agreement, the Commonwealth will contribute half of that five per cent gap in SRS—the biggest ever increase in funding to public schools—with the states and territories also contributing.

Obviously, as their name suggests, state schools are run by states. The Minister for Education, Jason Clare, has already negotiated deals with WA, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. This means that schools in WA and Tasmania will be fully funded from 2026 and that those in the Northern Territory will be fully funded by 2029. This is ahead of the plan by two decades and is entirely necessary to provide equity for children who are experiencing disadvantage. Minister Clare has said that this funding is not a blank cheque. Crucially, it's tied to outcomes-focused reforms. We want the community to have full transparency about how their taxpayer dollars are changing young lives. This means measures such as early assessment, in year 1, of phonics and numeracy to identify children who need additional support before they get left behind. As a high school teacher, I can say that I definitely believe that 'a stitch in time saves nine' when it comes to kids.

The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement is also focused on shoring up a strong and sustainable workforce. One of the first actions taken by Minister Clare was the development of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan. Even in Moreton, an inner-city seat, some of my schools still have trouble tracking down teachers. This plan recognises five priority areas: increasing the number of teachers, strengthening teacher education at universities, retaining current teachers, elevating the profession to the respected and valued status it deserves, and mapping out future workforce requirements. This has translated into 4,000 additional university places for starting a teaching degree and $56 million for Commonwealth teaching scholarships designed to attract enthusiastic and committed students.

Yesterday, I went to my good friend John Carozza's 60th birthday party. We met on my first day at teachers college back in 1983. The table was full of teachers: John, Brendan, Fiona, Craig, Kylie, Rex, Liz. We were all talking about a lifetime of teaching. John Carozza is an exceptional teacher at QACI in Kelvin Grove. We were talking about what we need to do to retain teachers and also inspire students at schools to go into a teaching career—a strong, noble career. It is something that my youngest son has committed to doing, and I hope he fares well.

Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In my first speech to parliament, I made it clear to those who had elected me and to those who were in the room that I wanted to be part of a government that would help fix the imbalance in school funding. My ask was pretty simple. I want public school kids to have the same education and resources as those who attend independent schools. Today we know that the scales have been tipped heavily in the wrong direction. For far too long public schools in Australia have been underfunded, and in New South Wales the gap in the Schooling Resource Standard has persisted. This gap doesn't exist as regularly for independent schools, and it has meant that students' access to quality education isn't the same. The imbalance we have, made worse by nearly a decade under the Liberals, has meant that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are three times more likely to fall behind, with 86,000 students across the country not meeting basic literacy or numeracy standards.

To address this gap, Labor has put $16 billion on the table over the next decade, committing to cover half of the SRS funding gap. This $16 billion represents the largest increase in Commonwealth funding to public schools in Australian history, ensuring that all students, no matter their background, have access to high-quality public education. Our ask is pretty reasonable. The states, who are responsible for the delivery of public education, can fund half, and the federal government will step up and fund the other half. For the first time, our federal investment is tied to real, measurable outcomes focused on improving student performance, enhancing student wellbeing and creating a strong and sustainable teaching workforce. The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement reflects this commitment to reform and sets out to close the educational equity gaps that have held back so many public school kids for so long. As we know, education opens doors, and these reforms will ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has a foundation to build a successful future.

Because learning doesn't just happen in a vacuum, in today's world supporting students' wellbeing is also crucial. The pandemic brought new challenges, and we've seen a rise in mental health issues among young students. That's why Labor has invested over $200 million in student wellbeing through the Student Wellbeing Boost. This funding allows every school across the country to support student mental health better with the flexibility to address the specific needs of their school communities. Schools have used this funding to bring in mental health professionals, run wellbeing programs and create activities that foster a sense of belonging and engagement. Our approach to wellbeing ensures that no student's mental health is overlooked. We know that, when students are emotionally supported, they're more prepared to engage academically. This investment in student wellbeing is a direct response to the mental health challenges young Australians face today, making sure they have the support at school that they need to thrive.

A strong education system also requires a strong workforce. Unfortunately Australia has been facing a teacher shortage, an issue that has been growing over the past 10 years. Our government is addressing this challenge head-on through the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan. It includes a $159 million investment for 4,000 additional university places in education, a $30 million teacher workload reduction fund and $56 million in scholarships designed to attract passionate individuals to the profession. These initiatives are creating a stronger and more sustainable workforce. We're focused not only on attracting new teachers but also on supporting those already in the classroom. This plan provides teachers with high-quality professional learning, eases their workload and equips them with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. Retaining experienced teachers and encouraging new ones to the field are essential to our strong education system, and our plan is crucial to achieving that.

Our commitment to education also includes the very environments in which they learn, with $285 million allocated through the Schools Upgrade Fund to invest in critical school infrastructure. In Bennelong, schools like Eastwood Heights Public School, Ryde Public School and West Ryde Public School have received upgrades to outdoor learning spaces, shade structures and more, creating comfortable, safe environments for students to learn and grow. On this side we want our public schools to be the best they can be. What we've delivered plus our record funding arrangements on the table show that federal Labor is serious about addressing the funding imbalance in public schools in Bennelong and right across the country.

Terry Young (Longman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.