Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, today warned the Turnbull Government’s decision to abandon its election promise to back the Gonski school funding deal will cost Ballarat schools hundreds of millions of dollars.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham has confirmed the Turnbull Government will break its election promise, and abandon the final two years of the deal to properly fund all schools based on need.
“Malcolm Turnbull’s decision to abandon our schools will have a devastating impact on the Ballarat region,” Ms King said.
“Schools in Ballarat were the big winners of Labor’s Gonski funding deal, with additional funding for rural and small schools, as well as extra funding for students with special needs.
“Tearing up this deal will rip $215 million out of Ballarat schools and abandoning needs-based funding will again see our children struggle to get the teachers and resources they need, and deserve.
“With Malcolm Turnbull abandoning the full Gonski funding, rural and regional schools and families will once again be significantly disadvantaged.”
“Rural and regional students need to get their fair share, or they will be left behind.”