Victorian Government accused of not meeting its Gonski funding requirements for state schools

Reports in The Age say Jacinta Allan’s government has not delivered on its funding agreements for state schools.

The reports claim the State Government has delayed its commitment to the Gonski education reforms by three years, ripping out $2.4 billion from school budgets. Confidential documents, the outlet reported, reveal that the government abandoned the agreement in a March 2024 meeting of the cabinet’s budget and finance committee.

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Ms Allan has rejected the claims, saying the reports were incorrect, and that her government had increased funding for school capital works and buildings by $17 billion.

“Fifty per cent of all new schools that open up around Australia are found here in Victoria,” she said.

“Our government has only increased funding to Victorian government schools, so any claim of anything to the contrary, is just wrong.”

The Australian Education (AEU) Union Victorian Branch has branded the funding delay a disaster.

AEU Victorian Branch president Justin Mullaly said: “Without full funding delivered in a fair and timely way, it will be much harder for teachers, education support staff, and principals to properly and effectively meet the learning and wellbeing needs of students.

“Beyond needing to explain to Victorian public school staff, students, and families why they are not worth the investment compared to other states and territories, the Premier and Education Minister need to fix this mess and ensure our schools are funded properly and fairly. 

“This is an unacceptable situation that requires urgent action from both levels of government.

“By delaying funding, the Allan Labor Government and the re-elected Albanese Labor Government are failing Victoria’s students,” Mr Mullaly said.

The Albanese Government and Allan Government reached an agreement in January to see all public schools fully and fairly funded. As part of the agreement, the Commonwealth will provide an additional fiver percent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to Victorian public schools, lifting the Commonwealth’s contribution to 25 percent of the SRS by 2034.

The funding agreement, like similar funding agreements between the Federal Government and state governments around the country, is tied to reforms in Victorian schools, including a Year 1 phonics check and an early years numeracy check to identify students in the early years of school who need additional help; access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning; and initiatives that improve the attraction and retention of teachers.

Speaking when the agreement was announced, Victorian Minister for Education, Ben Carroll, said: “We have been unrelenting in our advocacy to the Commonwealth to increase its funding to 25 per cent of the SRS for Victorian Government schools to ensure that all schools in Victoria are fairly and fully funded.”

“This is a win for Victorian students and teachers, and we are pleased to have reached agreement with the Albanese Labor Government.”

In a statement, shadow education minister Jess Wilson said the cuts would “cement Victoria as the state with the lowest funding rate for public schools per student in the nation”.

“Whilst spending years demanding the Commonwealth lift their proportion of government school funding beyond agreed levels, the Allan Labor government was secretly cutting billions from public schools.”