Greens call for fairness and government support on Public Education Day

Greens Education spokesperson, Senator Kerry Nettle, today called on both federal and state governments to commit to support and funding for our great public schools.

"Today on Public Education Day the Greens are calling for public schools to get the support and funding they deserve," Senator Nettle said.

"Public schools around the country do a fantastic job and today is a day for celebrating the contribution that public school and public school teachers have made to this great country.

"Julia Gillard has described the issues of public vs private in schooling as 'the old education debate', but we can not ignore past inequities in support and support.

"The education budget is no more a magic pudding than any other. If a dollar is spent in extra subsidies for a wealthy exclusive private school that is a dollar not spent in a public school. Minister Gillard cannot ignore this.

"The Greens call on the federal government to invest at least an extra $5.5 billion in recurrent funding to public schools and not allow this increase to trigger an automatic increase in public funding to private schools.

"The Australian school system does need an overhaul but this cannot be achieved by choosing to ignore the inequities of the past or put them in the too hard basket.

"Our federal education dollar could be buying the country a better value education outcome but whilst politicians lack the courage to take on the elite private school sector many of these precious dollars will be wasted."

For More Information:

Jon Edwards
Email: jon.edwards@aph.gov.au
Phone: 0428 213 146