Thursday, 15 May 2025

Schools funding

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:12): My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, on Tuesday in response to a question from Mr Davis, you told the house that the government has a commitment to funding schools to 75 per cent of the schooling resource standard in the life of the agreement whilst denying that cuts were being made to education funding. It has been reported in the Age this week that the Victorian and Commonwealth governments signed an agreement in November 2023 which committed Victoria to providing 75 per cent of the SRS standard by 2028 but that 2024 cabinet-in-confidence documents show that commitment has been pushed out to 2031. Treasurer, are you denying reports that the government has delayed its SRS commitment from 2028 to 2031?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:12): I thank Ms Copsey for her question and indeed her interest in public education. She shares a passion, obviously, that the government has for public education, and that is why year in, year out education budgets increase and they go up and up every year. As you have indicated, we are committed to funding government schools at 75 per cent of the schooling resource standard. Following the federal election, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education will continue the discussions on the bilateral negotiations, and therefore he is best placed to update you in relation to those. But we are firmly committed to funding the things that schools need and the capital that they rely on.

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:13): Treasurer, in terms of seeking a surplus for Treasury, how much money in the budget bottom line will be stripped out of education funding over the forward estimates by delaying this Gonski funding from 2028 to 2031?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:14): It is fortunate that the budget is only days away and will be delivered next Tuesday. I will respond to budget questions once it has been delivered.