‘Show us the money’: clock ticking on Vic Premier’s public school funding promise

By EducationHQ News Team
Published 4 hours, 53 minutes ago

With just days remaining before the Victorian Government goes into caretaker mode prior to the upcoming state election, the annual budgets for 2027, issued recently to Victorian public schools, show that the Premier is yet to deliver on his full funding promise, the Australian Education Union says.

“It [the pay deal] makes Victorian teachers the best paid in Australia – with the best conditions. It recognises that great public education starts with valuing the people who deliver it,” Ben Carroll said on August 15. PHOTO: AAP

“The clock is ticking on Premier Ben Carroll’s promise to deliver full funding for Victorian public schools before the state election,” AEU Victorian Branch President, Justin Mullaly, said in a statement.

The union says that on August 9 when asked, ‘are you going to, before the election, fulfil that full and fair funding obligation’, Carroll responded, ‘that is my intention’.

He went on to say, ‘My priority is delivering full and fair funding for our public school kids … it’s the right thing to do,’ the AEU said.

“Victoria will go into caretaker mode at 6pm on November 3. To deliver his promise, the Premier must sign an agreement with the Commonwealth prior to the start of caretaker,” Mullaly said.

In the middle of August, Victorian public school teachers voted to accept the Carroll Government’s offer of a pay rise of up to 32.4 per cent over four years – and hope to pocket a $2000 lump sum sweetener as part of the deal.

A ballot vote by AEU Victorian branch members saw an overwhelming majority (79 per cent) vote to accept the offer, which contained changes to working conditions including a reduced number of meetings per week and four professional practice days each year.

At the time, Mullaly said the increases were “why it pays to be a union member”.

“This outcome has been won through the direct efforts of AEU members, who demanded pay and conditions that reflect the value and importance of their work in Victorian public schools,” Mullaly said on August 16.

Under the new agreement, an experienced teacher’s pay will increase from the current $118,063 to $151,419 by 2029, including a $15,393 boost this year, taking their earnings ahead of NSW teachers.

Meanwhile, an early career teacher will see a $12,343 pay increase by October, bringing them into line with their NSW counterparts.

The agreement also says this year all Victorian teachers in public schools will receive a minimum 13.04 per cent increase, with further increases ranging between 4 and 4.9 per cent over the life of the deal.

Principals and assistant principals will receive a 28.3 per cent pay boost over the same period.

Education support staff in schools, including classroom support, business managers, administrative staff, and those supporting students with disability, are set to receive a minimum pay increase of 28.3 per cent over the four years.

“Victoria’s public schools are the lowest funded in the country – they cannot remain so,” Mullaly said today.

The Victorian-Commonwealth school funding deal must be done immediately, he said, and must be consistent with agreements delivered over 18 months ago in every other state and territory, “nothing less”.

“Every student deserves a fully funded public school.

“The Premier has just 17 days left to do the right thing and deliver his promise.

“Ahead of the state election, for any politician, credibility on public education relies on supporting full funding for Victorian public schools to the levels already established everywhere else in Australia, and the Premier must act now to deliver on this,” Mullaly said.