25 September 2024
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (15:07): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the minister representing the Minister for Education on the topic of public school funding.
Leave granted.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: I understand that today Tasmania has secured an agreement with the commonwealth to fully fund their schools by 2029. Under the deal the federal government will lift its commitment to 22.5 per cent of the school resource standard, with the Tasmanian government committing to the remaining 77.5 per cent. Currently, the ACT is the only jurisdiction in Australia where public schools are fully funded. A report recently released by the Australian Education Union, titled A Decade of Inequality, demonstrated that private schools in South Australia are overfunded—overfunded—by $79.7 million each year, while public schools continue to languish without appropriate funding. My questions to the minister representing the Minister for Education are:
1. What action is the Malinauskas government taking to ensure that public schools are fully funded in our state?
2. Will the government seek to reach an appropriate agreement with the Albanese government in Canberra to ensure that South Australian schools get the funding they deserve?
The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:09): I know that the Minister for Education in another place works tirelessly day in, day out, to get the best deal for South Australian public schools, but I am happy to refer the questions to the minister in another place and have a reply brought back from him.
29 October 2024
In reply to the Hon. R.A. SIMMS (25 September 2024).
The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Education, Training and Skills has advised:
Full funding for every school is crucial to achieving a more equitable education system.
I have been actively advocating for the full funding of public schools since becoming the Minister for Education, having made a commitment in opposition to do so.
The Malinauskas Labor government is focused on ensuring the next school reform agreement will fund South Australian public schools at 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard.
Our government is committed to renegotiating the next school reform agreement to ensure all South Australian schools, including public schools, receive their full and fair funding levels.