Palmer must stop raiding schools funding for pet project  

Education Minister Jo Palmer must stop raiding Better and Fairer Schools funding to bankroll her pet Multi-School Organisation project.

In Budget Estimates, the Government confirmed it has used $600,000 from the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement in 2025, with another $500,000 allocated in both 2026 and 2027.

That is $1.6 million intended for schools that need it, but instead it is being funnelled into the Minister’s handpicked pet project.

The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement is meant to deliver needs-based funding to Tasmanian schools, based on the Gonski principles of educational equity and supporting students who need help the most.

As a former teacher, I know this funding should be going to schools and students who need extra support, not bankrolling a project the Minister picked up after an all-expenses-paid trip to the UK.

The Government has already created highly paid executive roles for the MSO trial, including a CEO on more than $200,000 and a head of operations on more than $150,000.

That is more than $350,000 for two executives to sit above three existing school principals, while schools are crying out for more support in classrooms. This has now been doubled with a second MSO announced for the north. 

After 13 years of Liberal waste, Eric Abetz is cutting almost $230 million from schools to pay for it. Now we know the Liberals are also raiding Better and Fairer Schools funding to pay for their own pet projects.

Tasmanian students, teachers, and school communities deserve better than this.

Minister Palmer needs to stop raiding funding designed to support equity in Tasmanian schools and explain why money meant for students is being diverted into her pet project.