Education has been completely overlooked in Treasurer Michael Ferguson’s cuts-and-debt budget.
Tasmania has some of the worst education outcomes in the country, yet the Liberal minority government has managed to find next to no new funding for new initiatives, and no funding for new education infrastructure projects.
The new initiatives in the budget are funded by growth in existing agreements, which is money Tasmanian schools were entitled to anyway.
This budget doesn’t do nearly enough to address teacher shortages, which are one of the most pressing issues in Tasmania’s education system.
This budget doesn’t do nearly enough to meet the government’s literacy commitments, or support our overworked education staff with evidence based practices.
As the second biggest department, education will be exposed to the budget cuts which will have a devastating impact on teaching and learning.
After nearly ten years under a Liberal Government, Tasmania’s education system is performing worse than any other state.
Yet this budget makes it clear that fixing Tasmania’s education issues is far less of a priority than building a stadium for Jeremy Rockliff’s misguided government.
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years