And to be clear, since 2014 Commonwealth funding for state public schools has been rising faster than state spending and at a faster rate than for the non-government sector.
So, with these cuts to NSW public schools who are the teacher unions going to blame now? Is it another protest bus to Canberra to ask for more federal funding for NSW to make up the slack? Or is it at last a vigil outside Premier Minns’ office demanding his government exercise its constitutional responsibilities, stick to its agreements and promises, and fund its own schools appropriately?
Only when the states are held to account for their underfunding of their own public schools are we going to have sensible discussion in this country about levels of school funding, and who should be held accountable for our declining education performance.
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About the Author
Dr Scott Prasser has worked on senior policy and research roles in
federal and state governments. His recent publications include:Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia (2021); The Whitlam Era with David Clune (2022) and the edited New directions in royal commission and public inquiries: Do we need them?. His forthcoming publication is The Art of Opposition reviewing oppositions across Australia and internationally. .