Labor education policy, school funding key to next election

The party is determined to ensure school funding is a key battleground at the next federal election.

Education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek will host a National Schools Forum in Melbourne. Picture: Kym Smith

Labor is throwing down the gauntlet on education, with the party determined to ensure school funding is a key battleground at the next federal election.

Labor’s deputy leader and education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek will host a national schools forum in Melbourne next month as the opposition argues the differences on education between the two parties could not be starker.

“Labor’s National Schools Forum will focus on hearing from parents, teachers, principals, and academics about what works best to improve schools and student results,’’ Ms Plibersek said.

“Labor’s commitment to restore every dollar of the $17bn the Liberals have cut from schools is important, but we want make sure that investment is used to get the biggest improvements for our children in the classroom.’’

The forum, at Melbourne University on November 20, will be opened by Bill Shorten and Victorian Deputy Premier and state Education Minister James Merlino.

Mr Shorten, the Opposition Leader, scored political points during the Gonski 2.0 debate earlier this year by siding with Catholic education officials against the Turnbull government’s $23.5 billion Gonski 2.0 legislation.

Education has traditionally been a strong issue for Labor, and the Australian Education Union ran its “I Give a Gonski’’ campaign on school funding leading up to the 2016 election.

But the architect of needs-based funding, businessman David Gonski is now leading a review for the Turnbull Government into how education funding is spent to improve Australia’s academic results.

Ms Plibersek said: “Under Malcolm Turnbull, public schools and parish are being hit hard, while some elite private schools get multimillion-dollar funding increases.’’

“Under the Liberals, there is much less money for schools, and no plan to improve them — not one more kid graduating high school, no improvement in literacy and numeracy, or teaching quality.’’

She argued the difference on education between the two parties could not be starker.

“Labor is hosting this National Schools Forum to identify and discuss the changes needed to ensure excellence, tackle educational disadvantage, and make certain all Australian children leave school with the skills they need to participate in their community, and in our changing economy,’’ she said.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham dismissed Labor’s planned national schools forum, saying it would be nothing more than a “talk fest’’ and “photo op’’.

“We’ve engaged David Gonski and a panel of experts to examine best-practice initiatives in classrooms to ensure the additional resources we’re delivering are used as effectively as possible,’’ Senator Birmingham said. “This forum is Labor turning their back on David Gonski and his work.’’

Senator Birmingham said Labor’s forum would be a “ talk fest they want to use to hide the hypocrisy and lack of detail that are hallmarks of Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek’’.

“Like Kevin Rudd’s Australia 2020 Summit or Kate Ellis’ child care roundtables that delivered no outcomes, Labor will use this forum as nothing more than a photo opp,’’ he said.

“The Turnbull Government’s schools funding overhaul invests an additional $23.5 billion or around $2,300 per student.’’