Thursday, 1 August 2024

Glen Waverley electorate

John MULLAHY (Glen Waverley) (14:52): (734) My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Education. What is the impact on local government schools in the Glen Waverley district because the Commonwealth government is not providing 5 per cent of the needed funding according to the schooling resource standard? Public education is the backbone of our state. Quality public schools give every child, regardless of gender, race, sexuality or socio-economic background, a chance to learn and develop into contributing members of society. They provide opportunities and open pathways for kids to be the best version of themselves. Public schools are some of the most important assets of our state and nation, and we must do everything in our power to improve and support them. We have a situation whereby private schools are overfunded whilst public schools, which serve the majority of our community and quite oftentimes the most disadvantaged, are chronically underfunded. The fact that we are discussing whether public schools should receive even the minimum funding is outrageous, and it is so disappointing to see that the Commonwealth is not more motivated to provide more funding to bridge the disparity.