The Albanese Government’s share of public school funding is currently set at 20 per cent, but is due to rise to 25 per cent (40 per cent in the NT) in order to reach the bare minimum funding required by Australia’s public schools (SRS), however analysis of budget papers by education expert Trevor Cobbold and statements made by Labor, The Greens say, reveals that the timeline for raising the federal contribution has been pushed back, with the vast majority of new funding planned for after 2029. 

Already struggling public schools, they say, will miss out on around $3 billion each year between now and 2029 when compared with raising the federal contribution from 2026.

The Government’s plan, The Greens say, sees an estimated $5.8 billion “ripped out” from NSW public schools by the end of the funding deal, with Victoria losing $5 billion and Queensland losing $4.4 billion. 

Cobbold claims Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has only committed to honouring the funding outlined in the forward estimates of the Budget Papers which are for four years, not the nine years to 2034.

With promised funding not in the budget, according to The Greens, due to Labor “pushing meaningful increases out past the forward estimates”, they say Labor have “handed Dutton a free pass to gut public school funding if he gets into office”.

The Opposition Leader’s positioning on only committing to expenditure detailed in the forward estimates has “all the hallmarks of the Abbott/Pyne abandonment of the Gonski funding plan in 2013” according Cobbold. 

Back then prime ministerial hopeful Tony Abbott, famously announced a pre-election “unity ticket” on school funding with the then-Rudd Government, only to immediately renege on it after the election.

The Abbott Government refused to fund the last two years of the Gonski funding plan and released the states from their commitment to increase funding for public schools.

Greens spokesperson for Primary and Secondary Education, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, said she believes parents of public school students and teachers would be shocked at how much their school is being short-changed.

“And what’s worse, this leaves the door open to funding cuts if Peter Dutton gets his way,” Allman-Payne said.

“Every child deserves a free, world-class public education, … we think kids starting school next year deserve a fully funded education now, not in ten years.”