National “fair funding now’ van visiting western nsw

The president of the NSW Teachers Federation Maurie Mulheron is visiting western NSW with a simple message – the Morrison government must reverse the $14 billion it has cut from funding for public schools like those in Mildura, Hay, Deniliquin and Broken Hill.

On Thursday 28 February, Mr Mulheron will join the van tour and visit Hay to deliver a strong message about the clear choice for electing a government that puts their local public schools such as Hay Memorial High School, Hay Public School and Edward Public School first. After school Mr Mulheron will join teachers from the Deniliquin Teachers Association for a Fair Funding Now! Bowls Competition.

On Friday 1 MarchMr Mulheron will join the van tour visiting Edward Public School in Deniliquin and then join with teachers from the Wentworth Teachers Association for a NSW v’s Victoria Fair Funding Now! Competition at the Mildura Bowls Club.

On Saturday 2 MarchMr Mulheron will be at the Beginning Teachers Conference in Broken Hill.

New figureshave revealed that the Morrison government’s school funding legislation will actually leave 99 per cent of public schools below the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by 2023. In fact, less than half of all public schools will even reach 95 per cent of the SRS by this date. By contrast, nearly 99 per cent of private schools in Australia will be funded at, or in excess of, the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by 2023.

However, if Labor forms government at the next federal election Hay War Memorial would receive an additional $330,000 in funding in the first three years. Hay Public School an additional $310,000 and Edward Public School an additional $200,000 over the first three years “Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made it clear that public schools are not a priority for his government,” Mr Mulheron said.

“Labor’s federal election commitment to invest $14.1 billion in our public schools is vitally important for local school communities. Bill Shorten’s $3.3 billion commitment for public school funding in the first three years is a very welcome game-changer for public schools,” Mr Mulheron said.

“The Greens’ commitment to 100 per cent SRS funding for public schools is highly commendable and welcomed by the AEU.”

“The Federal Coalition’s 2017 school funding legislation is directly responsible for leaving our public schools under-resourced. Our 2.5 million public school students can’t wait – their schools need that funding now and we will be talking to parents and community members across the country about the importance of electing a government that puts public schools first,” Mr Mulheron said

/Public Release.