No school funding in SA Labor Budget

In what can only be viewed as a vote of no confidence in Federal Labor’s school funding model, the South Australian Labor Government hasn’t included any money for the education changes in their Budget, according to the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne. “South Australia joins Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory with no funding budgeted next year for the changes, meaning even if they sign up, no funding will flow for years, further undermining Federal Labor’s claims of rivers of gold for schools,” Mr Pyne said. “Over the next three years Commonwealth funding decreases for schools. It is the undeniable reality, confirmed by the Budget figures and backed up by Senate Estimates,” he said. “We also now know from Estimates that the transition funding over the next four years is entirely insufficient, with Departments assuming a ‘straight line’ transition to this new model with the total $9.8 billion divided equally over six years. “That would be $1.63 billion a year and $5.6 billion over the three and a half years of transition. Instead schools can expect $2.8 billion in repackaged national partnership funding. “This can only mean some schools will miss out on promised funding, some potentially for years. “There are many many unanswered questions regarding Labor’s model. It was rushed through the House of Representatives without proper scrutiny. Little wonder schools are so concerned,” Mr Pyne said. June 7, 2013