With Victoria and South Australia both securing the full 5 per cent additional Schooling Resource Standard funding from the Federal Government, Minister Jo Palmer has a golden opportunity to secure the same funding for Tasmania.

When the Liberals rolled over on the school funding deal last year, they were heavily criticised by the AEU for accepting a deal that locked in a 4 per cent loophole and prevented Tasmanian schools from achieving full funding under the Schooling Resource Standard.

In the days prior to rolling over, Minster Palmer appeared to be holding firm. “We firmly believe that we must see 100 per cent funding in our government schools and that the federal government should be providing that full 5 per cent, not 2.5 per cent, so we are standing with the other states and territories,” she said.

Only days later, she settled for much less to get Jeremy Rockliff out of his Heart Centre mess.

Tasmania’s education system is lagging behind the rest of the nation, which is undoubtedly holding back our kids and limiting their future opportunities for safe, secure, and well-paid jobs. 

It’s not too late for Tasmania to get a deal more like the one Victoria and South Australia landed, we just need Minister Palmer to put her money where her mouth is and rectify the hasty capitulation she agreed to last year.

Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years