Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Education funding

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:15): (895) My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, the Allan Labor government has secretly cut $2.4 billion from the state’s education system, the decision being made by a subcommittee of which you were a member. This will slice money from every government school in the state, putting agreed education objectives on the backburner. The state government appears so desperate now that it is prepared to compromise the quality of our children’s education. I therefore ask: do you support this government policy of compromising our children’s future through school cuts?

The PRESIDENT: I am concerned it is asking for an opinion.

David Davis: It is asking for a fact – whether she supports the government policy.

The PRESIDENT: I take that, Mr Davis, as a point of order. I will call the Treasurer, and she can answer as she sees fit.

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:16): Mr Davis, I reject the premise of your question. This is a government that has a strong record of supporting our schools in Victoria, particularly our public schools. When it comes to funding, year on year there are increases for our schools. We are upgrading schools right across the state. To reflect on your characterisation of this government, I would put that in contrast with one of my strongest memories of when I first came into this place 11 years ago – being lobbied by opposition members who had been in government for the previous four years about school upgrades that they had not managed to deliver in the four years that they were in government. It was unbelievable. I recall an amazing meeting with Peter Walsh within the first two weeks of being elected.

When it comes to funding increases, we have a commitment to funding schools to 75 per cent of the schooling resourcing standard in the life of the agreement. The Minister for Education has been on the public record. Those discussions and those negotiations are ongoing with the federal government. I am positive that with a Labor government in Canberra and a Labor government in Victoria we will have amazing outcomes for our students and for our teachers. We have a strong record, and we continue to be very proud about that.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:18): Everyone, including the Deputy Premier, understands that these cuts are real, and I say under the Allan Labor government’s plan to cut school funding Victoria will be eligible for less Commonwealth support. My question is: how much money is the Commonwealth government likely to cut from Victoria under the agreement, over the forward estimates, as a result of Victoria not meeting its commitments?

The PRESIDENT: My concern is the supplementary is asking about an action from a government other than the state government. Once again I will let the Treasurer answer as she sees fit.

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:19): As I explained in my answer to Mr Davis’s previous question, funding for education has gone up every single year, so to stand there and say there are cuts to education is not accurate. Victoria is investing $5.5 billion in government school funding over the next decade. We have a commitment under an agreement to reach 75 per cent of the schooling resource standard. The federal government will contribute 25 per cent of the resource standard. But it is very important to point out that this is just one component of the investment into education. It is only one part. When you look at all of the other parts where kids need to learn and get the best outcomes, it also includes being a fantastic place in terms of capital.

In the last couple of years we have spent $16.7 billion on capital improvements to ensure that teachers and students have the best environment in which to learn. In relation to the continued funding and to our increases, which keep going up each and every year, the education minister is currently engaged in those negotiations, and I would not want to pre-empt the outcomes of those negotiations.