News

6 November 2024

There is a serious question before the House. Our public schools are in a state of crisis. Quality education is the foundation of opportunity and a fairer future, and it must be accessible for all. For too long, our public schools have suffered from chronic underfunding, with parents and carers stepping in to raise much-needed funds through sausage sizzles and school fetes.

In Warringah, our 21 public schools are significantly affected, and underfunding remains a pressing concern for families. In fact, I recently wrote to the education minister to express support for the findings of the expert panel's 'Improving Outcomes For All' report, which highlights the stark funding inequalities in our education system. The findings are deeply concerning. High school completion rates in public schools have fallen from 83 per cent to 76 per cent in just six years and over one-third of students are failing to meet literacy and numeracy standards on NAPLAN. While the government's bill here today, the Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill 2024, goes some way to storing funding of our public schools, there is still a long way to go.

Like many parents in Warringah, I have actually had the opportunity, through my children, to participate and to engage in all levels and types of school. Ironically, my children have attended public primary schools. I've had a child attend a selective public high school. I have had children attend a faith based school and private schools. So I've had touch points with all systems, and I have to say that some of those decisions and choices were driven by a desire to give my children the best opportunity possible. But I did notice—I couldn't be blind to—the difference in resources and the quality of the facilities available to the students. They are vastly different, and that is intrinsically unfair. The government plays a part, with its funding model, to ensure that it's equitable—that there is access to those opportunities for all and the schooling and educational outcomes are a lot fairer. The bill's intention, and that of the government here, is to do ongoing work to strengthen funding arrangements for public schools and to have more transparency. The bill introduces strong accountability and transparency measures, requiring an annual update to parliament on the progress of the national school reforms. From my point of view, it is so important that we have integrity and more accountability and transparency from the government on how the funding is working, so it's great to see that in this bill. But this bill is just a start. It can go a lot further. We know that, back in 2011, David Gonski led the review of funding for schools and determined the schooling resource standard, the SRS. It's an estimate of how much total public funding a school needs to meet its students' educational needs. But unfortunately it's fallen behind, and there is a gap that has, I think, had a real impact on the outcomes for students, and it's something the government must address.

Unfortunately, despite the good intention of this bill, there remains a gap, and those who pay the price for that gap will be the students. And, if the students pay the price for that gap, Australia as a country will pay the price because they're our future. The responsibility, as I said, is shared. The Commonwealth is responsible for the majority of public funding for non-government schools, providing 80 per cent of the SRS, and the states contribute 20 per cent of that funding for non-government schools. As other members in this place have noted, non-government schools often see a much higher level of spending on facilities, and I've been able to observe that firsthand as a parent who has participated in that process. We have to make sure that public schools are receiving their fair share of funding. The states, as the owners and administrators of public schools, are the majority funders of public schools. They're responsible for 75 per cent of the SRS, and the Commonwealth is currently responsible for 20 per cent of the SRS. So we've had this remaining five per cent gap which has meant that public schools have fallen behind in terms of the quality of their resources. They have not had sufficient funding to really meet the needs of students. That five per cent gap is the ultimate problem, and unfortunately it remains, despite the intentions of the minister. Certainly, there remains a 2½ per cent gap in relation to New South Wales schools. Clearly, more needs to be done.

The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, this joint agreement that, it's intended, will commence on 1 January 2025, replaces the current NSRA that is due to expire. Unfortunately, there's a gap for New South Wales schools, and that is unacceptable. The reality is that it will fall to the Commonwealth government to meet that gap. The system needs greater funding certainty to ensure that children are getting the best education. So, whilst there's an intention in this bill to strengthen funding to public schools, it doesn't guarantee it, and that is problematic. Chronic underfunding negatively affects students' educational outcomes and their mental wellbeing, and teachers' ability to perform and stay in the profession. So I urge the government to increase the minimum funding floor to 25 per cent to offer a genuine pathway for schools to reach that 100 per cent of schooling resource standard funding. I look at examples within my community. Balgowlah Boys Campus, or Bally Boys, as we know it, is consistently ranked among the top non-selective schools in New South Wales—incredible results academically. Despite this, the school grounds are a huge community concern. I have visited the school grounds on a number of occasions. They're outdated facilities, with asbestos in the buildings and limited access to toilets, sports halls and music rooms. Many really felt like relics of another era. And I say this with respect because the boys and the teachers at that school are amazing. They are achieving so much. I've raised these issues with Premier Minns and the New South Wales education minister. I've invited them to come and visit the school: 'Come and see for yourself the conditions in which these boys are performing fantastically, and tell me that that standard of facility is respectful of them and their futures and the efforts they are putting in.' But the invitation to visit remains unanswered. They have not taken up the call to come and see that firsthand. These exceptional students are overachieving despite substandard conditions, and they deserve better. Increasing funding and providing a clear path to full funding would ensure students from schools like Bally Boys have access to every opportunity during their school years.

I should say, in New South Wales there are other concerns around schooling. Currently, the New South Wales Department of Education is consulting with the community on proposed changes to the Northern Beaches high schools. Those proposals include significant changes, including changing class years groups accepted at NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus and potentially merging NBSC Mackellar Girls Campus and NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus into co-educational schools, against the wishes of all the schools communities. While feedback is under review, it is essential that high-performing schools that are underresourced have the support necessary to meet the evolving needs of the community and the young people learning there. We've also seen the New South Wales Department of Education announce changes to the opportunity classes at the Balgowlah Heights Public School, and that serves academically gifted students in year 5 and 6. That has been done, again, with very little consultation. It will have a great impact on the local student cohort, staffing and the quality of outcomes. I've written to the minister, but there doesn't seem to be a willingness to engage with the consequences of the proposed changes. While I am here talking about local schools and public education, I have to say a huge thank you to my cohort of youth ambassadors. Every year for the last four years, I have been able to bring together the school leaders of all the high schools in the electorate of Warringah. We meet about every six weeks, and it is a fantastic opportunity to hear from these young leaders. It's about hearing their voices on the issues that they are concerned about. It's about giving them the opportunity to talk to their representative and to make sure they know what's happening in Canberra, here in parliament, on their behalf. I should also shoutout all the beautiful year 5 and year 6 students who visit Parliament House. They are always so engaged and so interested in this process. It is always so motivating to know that I am in this place on behalf of them and their future. I look forward to the minister engaging with the amendments before the chamber in relation to this bill. Fully funding our public schools in an investment in our children's future and our country. A strong education system is critical for spurring the innovation needed to tackle the climate crisis and ensuring our youth thrive in a complex and rapidly evolving economy. Quality education is essential to equip children with the skills to navigate the complexities of a digital world and to empower them with the knowledge to discern fact from misinformation. I urge the government to adopt the vital amendments and to make sure they are fully funding and futureproofing the funding of our schools today.