School funding for Australian schools

Constitutionally school education is a matter for each Australian state but the Federal Government over the years has kicked in with funding as it is the major collector of tax across our country.

Recently a report known as the Gonski Report commissioned by a Federal Labor government recommended needs based funding.  The recommendations were put on the back burner when the Federal government changed to a conservative coalition government.  Now that government has come up with Gonski 2.0 and it is in the throes of seeing this legislation through to becoming law.  They have to negotiate with various political representatives from other parties in the Senate (the upper house) if they what to achieve this.  Gonski 2.0 is also needs based but will not deliver the funding levels that the previous Labor government supported in Gonski 1.0.  There is a bit of a consensus around the traps that Gonski 2.0 is a good start.

The Catholic schools are up in arms as they see Gonski 2.0 as leaving them worse off.  They fear having to close schools and to raise fees for other schools.

I am particularly interested having in a former life been a school Principal.  I recall the Karmel report into Australian schooling commissioned by then Labor PM Goff Whitlam in the early 1970s.  Surprise surprise Prof Karmel recommended that there should be needs based funding.


May there Force be with us to reach the best decision for our youngsters!

GD


24 June 2017:  I can now report that Gonski 2.0 has now been passed into legislation with the Labor opposition opposed to it and vowing to fight the issue in the next election.  Their beef is that Gonski 2.0 is short of the mark in the funding needed.


May the Force be with us!


GD

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