States given time to fund Gonski education reforms

JULIA Gillard says the state premiers have six years to work out how to pay for their share of the Gonski schools funding reforms.

JULIA Gillard says the state premiers have six years to work out how to pay for their share of the Gonski schools funding reforms.

The Prime Minister and state leaders will discuss the reforms and funding at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April.

Ms Gillard told the Australian Education Union national conference in Melbourne the new schools funding model proposed by consultant David Gonski had been costed “in the order of $6.5 billion a year”.

She said the sum represented less than 0.4 per cent of gross domestic product, or about a quarter of the amount spent on alcohol nationally every year.

“We can afford school reform,” Ms Gillard said.

“I'm not asking the premiers to put money on the table today.

“The full school improvement plan will come into force gradually between 2014 and full completion in 2019.”

She acknowledged most states were trimming their budgets, but it was time to “share the leadership” on schools.

“I hope the premiers will rise to the challenge. Australia's children are counting on them,” Ms Gillard said, adding that the federal government was committed to its share of funds for the school improvement plan.

“We will get this thing done.”

The Prime Minister also took a shot at the Australian Greens, whose leader Christine Milne was expected later to tell the conference an expanded mining tax could cover the cost of the Gonski plan.

“Senator Milne will tell you today that it is all about the mining tax,” Ms Gillard said.

“It isn't. It's all about your commitment to Australia's children.

“If this moment is missed - frittered away in petty politicking by the Greens party - then it will never come again.”

AAP