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

I'm speaking in continuation on the Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill 2024. This bill brings a critical issue before the Senate today: the future of our education system.

There is arguably nothing that is more important than this subject. 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. The government claims that this is a step towards full and fairer funding for our schools, yet nearly three years into their term they have failed to secure a comprehensive national funding agreement. Sadly, 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 22.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the vast majority of government schools, 81 per cent, remain uncertain about their financial future. This bill also proposes raising the federal share to 40 per cent for Northern Territory schools by 2029, acknowledging the unique challenges that they face in the Territory. While this is welcome, there's no national reform strategy to ensure that every Australian child receives a quality education.

The Albanese government has failed to deliver on its promises, and time is running out, with the current school reform agreement set to expire at the end of 2024, just over one month away. The situation is dire. One in three students are not meeting minimum standards in NAPLAN, and international assessments paint an even bleaker picture. Recent PISA results show that Australian students are falling further behind their global peers, with nearly half of year 10 students struggling to achieve basic reading levels. Instead of improvement, we've seen years of decline, leaving our children unprepared for the future. To make matters worse, Australian classrooms rank among the unruliest in the world. Disruption undermines learning, with students distracted by devices and disengaged from lessons. Teachers cannot do their best work in such an environment. We need a clear strategy to restore discipline, including behaviour management programs and a stronger focus on evidence based teaching methods, like explicit instruction. The Education and Employment References Committee held an inquiry into this issue last year. The significant report that we provided as a committee to the Senate lays out some very important reforms that are necessary. The government needs to respond more sincerely to these recommendations.

I want to applaud the work of AERO in this area by developing resources for teachers, but more needs to be done by the government to drive these reforms across all jurisdictions. I fear that the agreements put in place as part of the funding agreement that this bill deals with doesn't hold the states to the account that is needed. I note that the title of the bill says 'funding and reform', but is it really both? Is it really reform? I would argue that the reforms do not go far enough, and that is something that we as a coalition are arguing. Senator Henderson made this point very clearly in her second reading speech. We are not doing enough as a country. This government, led by the Prime Minister, is not doing enough to address reform. The government's draft reforms, while addressing some areas like phonics checks and attendance goals, lack the depth of real change that is needed. We cannot afford half measures. A truly effective education system demands a back-to-basics approach where literacy and numeracy are prioritised and teachers are equipped with the tools that they require to succeed.

Nowhere are these challenges more evident than in Western Australia. Despite a $1 billion investment, making WA the first state to fully fund its public schools to the school resourcing standard, the teacher shortage crisis is spiralling out of control. Alarmingly, 80 per cent of WA teachers are choosing to leave or considering leaving this honoured profession, citing poor work-life balance and overwhelming workloads.

This situation is made worse by the mental health struggles that teachers face, with stress, anxiety and depression rates up to six times higher than the national average. Even more concerning is that public school teachers in WA experience violence in the workplace 11 times more often than the general population. This of course is unacceptable. On average a violent incident occurs in WA public schools—guess how often; it's not measured in hours—every 45 minutes. Violence is perpetrated in WA public schools every 45 minutes every day. These conditions are simply unacceptable.

As Dr Saul Karnovsky from Curtin University points out, the shortage is leaving schools struggling to staff classrooms, adding to the burden on already overworked teachers. Burnout is rising, and the quality of education is suffering as a result. We must take immediate action to support our teachers, improve their conditions and restore confidence in the teaching profession. Under the coalition we demonstrated how to lift standards. Over nine years we increased school funding significantly. We implemented stronger literacy programs and improved teacher training. Yet the current government falsely claims that we cut billions from education. These claims are baseless and only serve to distract from their own shortcomings.

A major issue lies with the states, which are not meeting their obligations under the Gonski funding model. While the Commonwealth consistently provides its agreed 20 per cent share, states like Queensland and Victoria are falling short, contributing just 69 per cent and 70 per cent respectively instead of the required 80 per cent. This underfunding at the state level leaves schools struggling, and it's where reform must focus. Again, it's about accountability. We need to see more accountability in these agreements.

But funding is only part of the solution. The quality of teaching and curriculum design are equally critical. Universities must improve teacher preparation, focusing on evidence based methods and practical classroom teaching and training. The Albanese government has been slow to act, giving universities until 2025 to update their courses. This delay is unacceptable when our students are already paying the price. Teacher shortages, as I've discussed already, compound these challenges, with many educators overwhelmed by administrative burdens and the overcrowding problem. The government's response—a few scholarships and an advertising campaign—falls woefully short, and we need practical solutions, such as fast-tracking teacher training reforms, cutting red tape and providing better support for mid-career professionals to transition into teaching.

The curriculum itself is another area in desperate need of reform. It's overly complex and fails to focus on foundational skills. Teachers and principals alike have called for a simpler, more targeted curriculum that gives students the essential knowledge that they need to thrive. Without this our education system will continue to lag behind international standards. We need less indoctrination and more education. Let's allow teachers to get back to basics in education. The stakes are high. Research shows that students who fall behind early often struggle to catch up, leading to disengagement and broader social issues. A failure to address these challenges today risks creating a generation ill equipped to meet the demands of tomorrow.

One final point that I'd like to highlight is the value of the private education system. Some in this place seem to take great joy out of attacking the role that it plays. This is sad. Whichever type of education a parent decides to send their children to—faith or non-faith schools, public or private—parents should have the choice. According to data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, the government provides about $14,000 in public funding per public high school student.

ABC News reported last year that private schools received less government funding per student—about $12,000 for Catholic school students and $10,000 for independent and non-government schools. Interestingly, in 2012, 63 per cent of high school students attended public schools, while 34 per cent attended private schools. Today the proportion of high school students in government schools has dropped to 57 per cent, compared to 41 per cent who attend non-government schools.

I don't need to remind senators that education is the absolute bedrock of our society. It shapes the future of our children and, in turn, the nation. This bill offers an opportunity to address some of the critical issues in our schools, but it's far from sufficient. The government must finalise funding agreements with all states and territories, and ensure reforms are comprehensive and deliver real support for teachers and students alike.

The coalition will support this bill because we believe in the importance of investing in education. However, we call on the government to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action to lift our schools to the standards that Australia deserves. Let's give every child the tools to reach their full potential and secure a brighter future for all.