Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces funds for school and heart clinic
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Tasmania today to announce more funding for schools. Here’s what’s been promised.
Tasmania
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The Tasmanian government has inked a deal with the federal government that will see public schools receive a significant funding boost.
The Liberals have signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, making Tasmania the third state to back the new schools funding deal.
As a result, public schools across the state will be funded to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
The Commonwealth currently provides 20 per cent of the SRS in Tasmania and will now increase this to 22.5 per cent by 2029.
The Tasmanian government, meanwhile, will up its contribution to 77.5 per cent by no later than the same year.
It comes after the Australian Education Union called for the federal government to increase its funding from 20 to 25 per cent.
The state and federal governments will also sign a bilateral agreement to tie funding to education reforms, including Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks, initiatives to support wellbeing for learning, access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning, and initiatives to strengthen teacher wellbeing.
There are currently no public schools in Australia, other than in the ACT, receiving full and fair funding under the SRS.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the “landmark” agreement meant “every public school in Tasmania will be fully and fairly funded”.
“This is a national priority that can only be delivered when the Commonwealth and state and territory governments work in partnership,” he said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said every Tasmanian deserved equal educational opportunity and this new deal would help realise that objective.
“Additional funding will now flow to Tasmanian schools from 2025, with up to an additional $300m invested into our public schools over the next five years,” he said.
“We have been transforming Tasmania’s education system over the past decade, and this funding partnership is the next step in delivering for young Tasmanians.”
Albo in Tas for heart clinic cash announcement
The federal government has also announced $120m for a heart clinic in the state’s north.
The funding announcement comes after the state government was questioned last week about “missing” funding for the project in the state budget.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff at the time said the centre would be delivered “as committed” and that planning was underway.
“This commitment follows months of advocacy to the Commonwealth Government and will deliver benefits to Northern Tasmanians for generations to come,” Mr Rockliff said on Wednesday.
“We know that Tasmania has the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the country, and by bringing these services closer to those who need it most, I am confident lives will be saved.”
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