PM’s private school spending splurge leaves public school students forgotten

The Morrison government’s private school funding deal is a cynical attempt by the Morrison government to buy votes at the next election at the expense of our children in our public schools.

Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe said that public school students had been completely forgotten by the federal government in its $4.6 billion-dollar private school special deal.

“This is a cynical attempt by the Morrison government to buy votes at the next election at the expense of students in our public schools. The Australian public won’t be fooled as this heats up as a major federal election issue,” Ms Haythorpe said.

Ms Haythorpe said the Morrison government had turned its back on the 2.5 million children attending public schools.

“There is not one single dollar in this $4.6 billion funding deal for our children in public schools. Instead the Morrison government is pouring billions of dollars into the richest private schools in the country.”

“This announcement shows this government’s hypocrisy when it comes to school funding,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“On one hand it claims to support needs-based school funding, yet it has just carved out a $4.6 billion special deal with private schools. This is the biggest private school special funding deal anyone has ever seen.”

“There is not one single dollar in today’s announcement to restore the $1.9 billion in public school funding cuts ripped out by the Morrison government for 2018 and 2019,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“There is not one single dollar for public school capital funding to build and maintain essential school infrastructure, while private schools get a $1.9 billion capital works special deal.”

“The Morrison government has turned its back on the 2.5 million children attending public schools. Parents in public school communities understand the importance of fully funding public schools, and they vote,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“Public schools need a fair go for funding, not a Prime Minister who clearly prioritises private schools and denies every child the opportunity to make their dreams come true.”

Ms Haythorpe said a key challenge for regional, rural and remote education is ensuring, regardless of location or circumstances, that every young person has access to high quality schooling and opportunities.

“The Prime Minister’s private school Choice and Affordability Fund is to help drought-affected private schools in rural, regional and remote areas. What about the children in public schools in these same areas?” Ms Haythorpe said.

“Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that public schools teach 74% of children in outer regional areas, 77.5% of children in remote areas and 88% in very remote areas,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“It’s astonishing that the Morrison government is completely ignoring these public school students in need.”

“Mr Morrison may think he has settled the funding wars but he is wrong,” Ms Haythorpe said. “We will escalate our campaign in 18 target seats, ensuring that parents across Australia know that it is the Morrison government which has abandoned public school students.”