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senate vote 2024-08-21#10
Edited by
mackay staff
on
2024-08-24 15:41:54
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Title
Matters of Urgency — Education- Matters of Urgency - Education - Over-funding of private schools
Description
<p class="speaker">Helen Polley</p><p>I inform the Senate that Senator McKim has submitted a proposal under standing order 75 today which has been circulated:</p>-
- The majority voted against a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2024-08-21.185.1) introduced by Queensland Senator [Penny Allman-Payne](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/penny_allman-payne) (Greens), which means it failed.
- ### Motion text
- > *That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:*
- >
- > *Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the Australian Greens propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:*
- >
- >> *The Labor Government's failure to fully fund public schools while pouring record money into over-funded private schools, condemning another generation of kids to an underfunded education."*
<p class="italic">Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the Australian Greens propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:</p><p class="italic"><i>The Labor Government's failure to fully fund public schools while pouring record money into over-funded private schools, condemning another generation of kids to an underfunded education."</i></p><p>Is the proposal supported?</p><p class="italic"> <i>More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—</i></p><p>With the concurrence of the Senate, the clerks will set the clock in line with the informal arrangements made by the whips.</p> <p class="speaker">Penny Allman-Payne</p><p>On behalf of Senator McKim, I move:</p><p class="italic">That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:</p><p class="italic">Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the Australian Greens propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:</p><p class="italic"><i>The Labor Government's failure to fully fund public schools while pouring record money into over-funded private schools, condemning another generation of kids to an underfunded education."</i></p><p>I rise to speak in favour of the motion because it is indeed a matter of urgency. When I was elected in 2022, I walked straight out of a classroom into the Senate, so I know first-hand what it means for public schools to have experienced over a decade of systematic underfunding. Underfunding looks like teachers having to be social workers, psychologists, nurses and IT departments as well as being responsible for teaching. Underfunding means being a teacher for maths class—</p> <p class="speaker">Helen Polley</p><p>If people are not participating in the debate, please leave the chamber if you want to have a conversation.</p> <p class="speaker">Penny Allman-Payne</p><p>It means standing in front of a maths class with range of students with complex needs and only being able to get a teacher's aide or a support person for one lesson in three. It means being a head of department and having to tell your teachers that they can only have two pieces of photocopy paper per student per lesson. It means standing in front of your teachers and telling them they can't even photocopy in colour, notwithstanding that is more engaging for students, because the department can't afford it. It means working in classrooms that are too hot or too cold but that don't have enough paint or that have leaky ceilings.</p><p>Today in this building, our students, teachers and parents are pleading with the government to fully fund public education. Today I heard from a teacher who told me they are continually having to merge classes because they don't have enough teachers, because teachers are leaving the profession in droves because they don't have the resources, the time and the support they need to adequately provide for students in our public schools. I heard from a young student who said that their school is no longer able to offer science classes to year 7s and 8s. Public schools are having to rely on family members and teachers and other members of the community to do basic maintenance in their schools. Fairhills Primary School in Victoria has a teacher's husband who is currently going around fixing the fences and the gates because the school does not have enough money in its budget to fix them.</p><p>Right now, the Labor government, who went to a federal election promising every Australian that they would fully fund our public education system, has a deal on the table—or a take-it-or-leave-it offer on the table—that would lock in another decade of underfunding for our public schools. In the last decade, the amount of money flowing into the private education system has increased at double the rate of the increase in funding to our public schools, despite David Gonski and the Gonski review panel saying over a decade ago that we need a funding model that reduces the inequity in our education system that is needs based and sector blind. For over a decade, teachers, parents, carers, students and other members of the community have been campaigning year after year after year to get the government to fully fund public education.</p><p>The public education system is in crisis. We are seeing parents fleeing the public education system, particularly when their young person goes from primary school to secondary school, because they don't have the confidence that their public school has the resources and support that their young person is going to need. I heard a story today of a teacher who works in a public school that backs onto a private school, and students are actually starting to ask their teachers why is it that the kids on that side of the fence have fantastic ovals and beautiful facilities and they can't even get new paint on their walls? When kids are starting to ask questions about why the school that they are in is not adequately funded, I think that says everything you need to know about how dire the situation is.</p><p>This has gone on for too long. We need to fully fund our public schools, and it's time for Labor to decide if they actually believe in public education.</p> <p class="speaker">Sarah Henderson</p><p>I'm pleased to rise and speak on this matter of urgency about public school funding on a day when state Labor education ministers are protesting outside Parliament House against the Albanese government over public school funding—what an absolute fiasco!</p><p>As I referenced in my speech earlier today, it takes a special sort of incompetence from education minister Mr Clare for things to go this far off the rails. I have continued to criticise the Albanese government because, in delaying the National School Reform Agreement, this government is delaying the critical reforms that are needed in every classroom—that is, evidence based teaching methods, which we know will turn the ship around and which will raise school standards in every classroom.</p><p>I am pleased to again note that, on ABC Radio National this morning, Victorian Labor education minister Mr Carroll applauded the former coalition government for delivering increased funding to government schools, declaring that our government had done a better job at funding public schools. Mr Carroll reiterated that Senator Birmingham, when he was education minister, increased the Commonwealth's contribution to the Schooling Resource Standard from 17 per cent to 20 per cent as part of our investment in schools' funding, which almost doubled over nine years from $13 billion to $25 billion.</p><p>In this debate, it's also very important to put the facts on the table, and the Greens do not have a good history of doing so. A core feature of the Gonski funding model is that the states and territories primarily fund government schools, with the Commonwealth carrying most of the funding responsibilities for non-government schools, including many low-fee Catholic and independent schools.</p><p>I just also want to place on record that the latest data shows that per-student funding for non-government schools stands at $14,032 compared to $22,511 for each student in government schools. That's a very marked difference, and it's very important, in this debate, that the Greens do not mislead anyone about the current funding envelope. A student at a government school attracts much more funding, pursuant to the Gonski funding model, than students who attend non-government schools.</p><p>I have to say though, we have seen many examples of this government not treating all schools fairly, and I do say it is pretty shameful that, when the minister rolled out teaching scholarships, which were meant to address the teaching shortage pressures and, in some cases, crises, he discriminated against non-government schools, ensuring that those very valuable teaching scholarships, which were worth up to $40,000, would go only to government schools.</p><p>There were also some other very disappointing indications of this government's contempt for non-government schools. We've had a considerable debate over the importance of deductible gift recipient status for all schools, including some 1,200 or more public schools which have school building funds, scholarship funds and library funds, and that tax deductibility status is incredibly important in driving funding to both government and non-government schools.</p><p>As I say, we are seeing an absolute mess courtesy of the Albanese government. And this is a mess of Labor's own making. It's a mess of Labor's own making because Labor went to the election promising full and fair funding and this Minister has continued to mislead Australians, as well as, frankly, the states and territories, by not making it clear that the current very significant shortfalls in school funding are because of the actions of the states and territories—except for the ACT—not the Commonwealth, under the current agreed funding model. But, as I say, this education minister is failing badly, and he needs to do better. <i>(Time expired)</i></p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>It does give me great pleasure to rise and contribute to this debate. I'm not sure if Senator Henderson is the shadow minister for this area—I know she's the shadow minister for something. I hope you're not, because half of what you said are absolute falsities. I'll put that through you, Chair. It's just absolutely ridiculous. We're cleaning up the mess that your lot made—Morrison's leftovers. So you get your five or 10 minutes to make all your statements that you can't back up. Half of them aren't even truthful. But I will have a go; we'll lay some facts on the table.</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Senator Sterle, resume your seat for one moment. Senator Henderson.</p> <p class="speaker">Sarah Henderson</p><p>Point of order—</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Senator Sterle, please be seated. Senator Henderson.</p> <p class="speaker">Sarah Henderson</p><p>Firstly, for the senator's benefit, I am the shadow minister for education, and, secondly—</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>That's not a point of order.</p> <p class="speaker">Sarah Henderson</p><p>I would ask him to withdraw his reflection on me.</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Senator Sterle, in the interest of goodwill, could you withdraw please?</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>For you, Madam Deputy President, I would do anything. So I will withdraw that—</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Thank you, Senator Sterle. Please continue.</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>because I like you; you're one of the good ones. I just want to make it quite clear. I don't know about the rest of anyone in this building, but I came through the public school system, and I'm quite proud of going through the public school system. I think there are many, many fine Australians who have come through the public school system. I didn't go through the private system, not because I didn't want to but because my parents couldn't afford it. It is quite simple, and I'm not ashamed of that. I was rapt to go through Langford Primary School and Thornlie Senior High School—not a problem. So it does grieve me when we hear those on the other side—and the Greens—who can't wait to pull the class wars out. Some of the debates in this place in the last year have just been the worst in my 19 years. But, anyway, it happens; I've got to put up with it. It's unbelievable.</p> <p class="speaker">Penny Allman-Payne</p><p>Why isn't the Assistant Minister for Education speaking on this topic?</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>There's nothing better than having a working class background and going through a public school—</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Senator Allman-Payne, could you stop interjecting?</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>Sorry, is there an echo in here? Is the room echoing?</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Sorry, Senator Sterle. Continue.</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>They can't take it. This is the problem when you come in here for a balanced debate, when people start putting out falsities.</p> <p class="speaker">Penny Allman-Payne</p><p>It's a valid question.</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Resume your seat, Senator Sterle, please—</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>Again?</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Yes, sorry. Senator Allman-Payne, you were listened to in silence. Please give the other senators the same courtesy. Senator Sterle.</p> <p class="speaker">Glenn Sterle</p><p>I really do appreciate that protection. Thank you so much. So I have to say this very clearly. It made me feel so proud to be part of the Albanese government when the Albanese government negotiated with a grown-up government, the Western Australian government. It is absolutely lifting that that fantastic state over there, full of its teachers and a great government, could actually sit down—don't shake your head—and have deals being done. What we do know is that the schools should be funded by the states. That's their job. The states need to do the public funding. The model was this: 75 per cent by the feds, 20 per cent by the states and five per cent just left out there floating. But the Western Australian government, under the best premier in this nation and the best premier Western Australia—</p> <p class="speaker">Penny Allman-Payne</p><p>Thank you for putting that on the record, Senator Sterle! It's an artificial cap.</p> <p class="speaker">Catryna Bilyk</p><p>Senator Allman-Payne, if I can hear you, your interjections are way too loud. Please desist. Sorry, Senator Sterle.</p> <p class='motion-notice motion-notice-truncated'>Long debate text truncated.</p>-
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