Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill 2024, which brings a critical issue before the Senate today—that is, the future of our education system. While this bill seeks to amend the Australian Education Act 2013 to increase federal funding for government schools, it falls short of addressing the core challenges facing our classrooms.

I note the title of this bill—'funding and reform'. I think this bill lacks reform. It doesn't have the reform that, ultimately, is necessary in our school systems across the country. I applaud the states that have been able to negotiate an agreement, and there should be more, but we need to see greater accountability and we've got to see reform of our education system because our children are falling further and further behind. More needs to be done.

The government claim that this is a step towards full and fair funding for our schools, yet nearly three years into their term they have failed to secure a comprehensive national funding agreement. As I said, only a few states and territories—Tasmania, Western Australia and the ACT—have struck bilateral deals to increase the Commonwealth funding contribution from 20 to 25 per cent. Meanwhile, the vast majority of government schools, 81 per cent, remain uncertain about their financial future. More needs to be done, and it's critical that the government gets this right, because kids' lives and their education are at stake, and I am concerned that there is not enough reform done through this bill that will drive the changes that we need to see.

Debate interrupted.