Amends the Australian Education Act 2013 to: redefine the Commonwealth share of funding for a government school to 25%; and introduce an obligation on the minister to be satisfied when determining the Commonwealth share that it is consistent with the objective that every school-aged child in Australia has access to a fully-funded government school.
From the explanatory memo:
The Bill proposes amendments to the Australian Education Act 2013 that will introduce a positive obligation on the federal government to increase the proportion of funding provided to government schools. The purpose of the amendments is to strengthen the onus that ensures government schools are fully funded to their minimum standard. Specifically, the amendments: • redefine the Commonwealth share for a government school to twenty-five percent or higher; • introduce an object of the Act that ‘every school-aged child in Australia has access to a fully-funded government school’; and • introduce an obligation on the federal education Minister to be satisfied when determining the Commonwealth share for a government school that it is consistent with the above objective.
More context:
The federal government currently provides twenty percent of the total portion of the School Resourcing Standard. States and territories are responsible for providing the remaining eighty percent. However, in effect the only jurisdiction to provide the full eighty percent of funding is the Australian Capital Territory, with all remaining jurisdictions falling significantly behind in providing their share of funding
The bill should be supported because it promotes equality in education funding, ensuring all students, regardless of their state or territory, have access to the resources needed to meet their educational needs. By increasing federal funding, the bill aims to close the existing gap between jurisdictions in meeting the School Resourcing Standard. This is crucial for advancing educational equality and reducing disparities in educational outcomes across Australia [Judgment]. Enhancing funding for public schools also supports the right to education and provides better resources for students with disabilities, facilitating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment [Judgment].
The bill should be opposed because it imposes an increased financial burden on the federal government, potentially leading to higher taxes or reallocation of funds from other essential services. Critics might argue that education funding should be primarily the responsibility of state and territory governments, who are better positioned to understand and address local needs [Judgment]. Additionally, the bill's approach could be seen as undermining the principle of state sovereignty in education policy, leading to federal overreach into areas traditionally managed by local jurisdictions [Judgment].
2023-09-14
Senate
Before Senate
ALLMAN-PAYNE, Sen Penny
Unspecified
Education, Social Support / Welfare, Discrimination / Human Rights
An article mostly about a different bill recently passed by Labor (https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/legislation-increase-funding-public-schools-passes-parliament) that had weaker provisions.