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Gonski makes student funding inequality worse, says Coalition Gonski makes student funding inequality worse, says Coalition Gonski makes student funding inequality worse, says Coalition
(about 2 hours later)
The Coalition has hit back at some states’ claims that the first Gonski school funding agreements signed by Labor were designed as a transition to bring all states and territories up to a similar funding level.The Coalition has hit back at some states’ claims that the first Gonski school funding agreements signed by Labor were designed as a transition to bring all states and territories up to a similar funding level.
The education minister, Simon Birmingham, said analysis of different state funding agreements in comparable schools shows the gaps between states widening over 2018-19 with the existing agreements in place.The education minister, Simon Birmingham, said analysis of different state funding agreements in comparable schools shows the gaps between states widening over 2018-19 with the existing agreements in place.
“Far from Labor’s Gonski arrangement fixing itself into a nationally consistent model after year six, the distortion of need actually gets worse,” Birmingham said.“Far from Labor’s Gonski arrangement fixing itself into a nationally consistent model after year six, the distortion of need actually gets worse,” Birmingham said.
“Unless we fix it, the inequality of funding between students set out in Labor’s version of Gonski would only get worse.”“Unless we fix it, the inequality of funding between students set out in Labor’s version of Gonski would only get worse.”
Birmingham was seeking to answer the charge from state education ministers that the agreements signed under the previous federal Labor government were designed as a transition to bring all states up to similar funding levels in line with the Gonski recommendations.Birmingham was seeking to answer the charge from state education ministers that the agreements signed under the previous federal Labor government were designed as a transition to bring all states up to similar funding levels in line with the Gonski recommendations.
The Gonski panel recommended a simple baseline Schooling Resourcing Standard (SRS) for every student loaded for disadvantages such as remoteness, Indigenous background, disabilities and socioeconomic factors.The Gonski panel recommended a simple baseline Schooling Resourcing Standard (SRS) for every student loaded for disadvantages such as remoteness, Indigenous background, disabilities and socioeconomic factors.
The figures show that in 2017, a West Australian school would get $2,649 per head in commonwealth funding per student, compared with $4,224 in Northern Territory, $3,236 per student in NSW and $2,897 in South Australia. The same school would get $3,130 in Victoria, $2,942 in the ACT and $3,294 in Queensland.The figures show that in 2017, a West Australian school would get $2,649 per head in commonwealth funding per student, compared with $4,224 in Northern Territory, $3,236 per student in NSW and $2,897 in South Australia. The same school would get $3,130 in Victoria, $2,942 in the ACT and $3,294 in Queensland.
By 2019 – the final year of the current “transitional” six-year agreements, education department figures show a West Australian school would get $2,968 per student in commonwealth funding, compared with $5,077 in the Northern Territory, $4,249 in NSW and $4,139 in South Australia. The same school would get $4,681 in Victoria, $3,087 in ACT and $4,037 in Queensland.By 2019 – the final year of the current “transitional” six-year agreements, education department figures show a West Australian school would get $2,968 per student in commonwealth funding, compared with $5,077 in the Northern Territory, $4,249 in NSW and $4,139 in South Australia. The same school would get $4,681 in Victoria, $3,087 in ACT and $4,037 in Queensland.
Prior to the 2016 election, Birmingham said he would break the existing school funding agreements and rewrite them for 2018-19, committing $3.9bn less than Labor for the same years.Prior to the 2016 election, Birmingham said he would break the existing school funding agreements and rewrite them for 2018-19, committing $3.9bn less than Labor for the same years.
Birmingham said the analysis showed the agreements were a “corrupted” version of the Gonski reforms that distorted federal funding to students with identical needs with differences blowing out per student to more than $2,000.Birmingham said the analysis showed the agreements were a “corrupted” version of the Gonski reforms that distorted federal funding to students with identical needs with differences blowing out per student to more than $2,000.
“These figures fly in the face of some of the political grandstanding we have seen recently,” Birmingham said.“These figures fly in the face of some of the political grandstanding we have seen recently,” Birmingham said.
“Contrary to some suggestions there is no magical resolution in the fifth and sixth years of Labor’s 27 different school funding models.”“Contrary to some suggestions there is no magical resolution in the fifth and sixth years of Labor’s 27 different school funding models.”
The analysis shows in 2014 one independent school in the ACT received 64% more commonwealth funding per student than a comparable school in WA. It also shows government schools in Tasmania would attract 40% more commonwealth funding in 2017 than comparable schools in WA.The analysis shows in 2014 one independent school in the ACT received 64% more commonwealth funding per student than a comparable school in WA. It also shows government schools in Tasmania would attract 40% more commonwealth funding in 2017 than comparable schools in WA.
It suggests in 2014, a Catholic systemic school in Victoria attracted more than double the commonwealth funding of a comparable Catholic systemic school in NSW.It suggests in 2014, a Catholic systemic school in Victoria attracted more than double the commonwealth funding of a comparable Catholic systemic school in NSW.
State education ministers, including South Australian minister Susan Close told the ABC the first agreements signed by Labor were transitional.State education ministers, including South Australian minister Susan Close told the ABC the first agreements signed by Labor were transitional.
“The view that’s being put forward through this study that somehow the disparity that occurs in the transition period is a reason to stop doing it at all is a view that will be firmly rebutted by all ministers,” she on Friday morning.“The view that’s being put forward through this study that somehow the disparity that occurs in the transition period is a reason to stop doing it at all is a view that will be firmly rebutted by all ministers,” she on Friday morning.