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Julia Gillard offers funding carrot for WA to sign up to Gonski program Julia Gillard offers funding carrot for WA to sign up to Gonski program
(4 months later)
Julia Gillard has made Western Australia a new, increased offer on schools funding in a bid to encourage the state to sign on to her plan.Julia Gillard has made Western Australia a new, increased offer on schools funding in a bid to encourage the state to sign on to her plan.
Federal Labor's initial offer would have put $300m into WA's base funding for schools, plus commonwealth indexation of 4.7% and state indexation of at least 3%.Federal Labor's initial offer would have put $300m into WA's base funding for schools, plus commonwealth indexation of 4.7% and state indexation of at least 3%.
However, the commonwealth did more work on the formula after WA argued the cost of providing education in the state was much higher than in other states.However, the commonwealth did more work on the formula after WA argued the cost of providing education in the state was much higher than in other states.
"On the basis that we now better understand the increased cost of providing education in Western Australia, I have today told Premier Colin Barnett that we are prepared to increase the offer," Gillard told reporters in Perth on Wednesday."On the basis that we now better understand the increased cost of providing education in Western Australia, I have today told Premier Colin Barnett that we are prepared to increase the offer," Gillard told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.
The new offer would mean an increase of $920m for WA schools. With indexation, WA schools over six years would get an additional $2.8bn of resources, the prime minister said.The new offer would mean an increase of $920m for WA schools. With indexation, WA schools over six years would get an additional $2.8bn of resources, the prime minister said.
Under the overall schools funding package, the commonwealth would provide 65% and the states and territories the remaining 35%.Under the overall schools funding package, the commonwealth would provide 65% and the states and territories the remaining 35%.
"I'm working to ensure we fix the current broken school funding system and we get school resourcing right for generations and generations to come," Gillard said."I'm working to ensure we fix the current broken school funding system and we get school resourcing right for generations and generations to come," Gillard said.
She added that she hoped Barnett would consider the details of the revised plan for WA.She added that she hoped Barnett would consider the details of the revised plan for WA.
"We have reworked the figures ... but the model is the same.""We have reworked the figures ... but the model is the same."
Gillard said the higher cost of providing education in WA was more like 11% than 8%.Gillard said the higher cost of providing education in WA was more like 11% than 8%.
So far only NSW and the ACT have signed up to Labor's national schools funding plan, which will deliver a total of $14.5bn to the states and territories over six years.So far only NSW and the ACT have signed up to Labor's national schools funding plan, which will deliver a total of $14.5bn to the states and territories over six years.
Gillard said the underpinnings of the revised deal for WA would "never" have applied to NSW.Gillard said the underpinnings of the revised deal for WA would "never" have applied to NSW.
"They apply here in WA because of the nature of the economy here, and the fact that teachers are paid more here," she said."They apply here in WA because of the nature of the economy here, and the fact that teachers are paid more here," she said.
But Barnett remains in no rush to sign up, saying he needs further details of the new offer.But Barnett remains in no rush to sign up, saying he needs further details of the new offer.
"The financial offer is better than what previously was basically an insult to WA schools so I'm pleased with that," the premier said. "There are still issues about governance and I made it very clear WA is not going to have state schools governed, or reporting, to Canberra.""The financial offer is better than what previously was basically an insult to WA schools so I'm pleased with that," the premier said. "There are still issues about governance and I made it very clear WA is not going to have state schools governed, or reporting, to Canberra."
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