Save Our Schools today warned that public schools in NSW and Queensland could lose nearly $40 billion in funding over the next ten years if the stand-off between the Albanese Government and the NSW and Queensland governments is not resolved. SOS National Convenor, Trevor Cobbold, said the failure to agree to fully fund public schools in the two states is “disgraceful” and will be “catastrophic” for public schools, particularly for disadvantaged students.
“We estimate that NSW public schools will be under-funded by a total of about $18 billion over the next ten years while public schools in Queensland will be under-funded by about $21 billion if no agreement is reached.
“Under the interim agreements for 2025, NSW public schools are under-funded by $1.5 billion this year and Queensland public schools by $2.1 billion.
“Accounting tricks that the Prime Minister has pledged to abolish account for a significant part of the under-funding. These tricks have allowed state governments to claim expenditures excluded from how the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) is measured as part of their share of funding public schools. Their continuation will cost NSW public schools about $8 billion in funding over the ten years and Queensland public school about $7 billion.”
Mr. Cobbold said that failure to replicate the funding agreements reached between the Federal Government and the Victorian, WA, SA and Tasmanian governments would be disastrous for learning by disadvantaged students and schools in NSW and Queensland.
“In NSW, 81% of all students from low socio-educational families attend public schools and 94% of all disadvantaged schools are public schools.
“In Queensland, 83% of all students from low socio-educational families attend public schools and 90% of all disadvantaged schools are public schools.
“Large proportions of students from low socio-educational families and other disadvantaged students are not achieving international and national standards. Public schools in NSW and Queensland face an enormous challenge in improving school outcomes for these students because they face large shortages in human and material resources.
“It is imperative that the NSW and Queensland governments quickly agree to fully fund public schools to improve school outcomes for disadvantaged students and reduce the huge achievement gaps between rich and poor.”
Mr. Cobbold said that the under-funding estimates are based on the SRS shares specified in the interim funding agreements for 2025 and data provided to Senate Estimates for the 2024-25 Budget by the Federal Department of Education.