Minister for Education Jeremy Rockliff must guarantee not to reduce funding available to support students with disabilities for the 2015 school year after massive cuts announced by the Liberals in the Commonwealth budget, Tasmanian Greens Education spokesperson Nick McKim said.
"An extra $3m was invested into increasing support for students with disabilities in Tasmanian state schools this year under the Respectful Schools model, which also featured tagged funding for students with IQs between 55 and 70."
“Now that the Liberal Party has taken the axe to the nationally consistent disability loadings that were due next year, and the associated funding, Mr Rockliff owes it to all parents, carers and students with disabilities to give a firm guarantee that he will not cut the level of support available to them."
“If Mr Rockliff refuses to guarantee no funding cuts, he will be admitting that his review of support for students with disabilities is a smokescreen to cut funding to some of our most disadvantaged learners."
“It’s no use Mr Rockliff trying to blame Canberra for his problems. He is in the same political party as Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey and tarred by the same brush.”