Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens' Education spokesperson
The revelation of the $51 million shortfall in State education funding is evidence of the Liberals’ irresponsible approach to Tasmania’s young people.
Independent analyst, Martyn Goddard, found state-educated students in Tasmania were being short-changed every year by an average of $908 each. GST funds specifically earmarked for education have been diverted away from our schools, away from educating our children and young people.
All Education Minister, Jeremy Rockliff, could do in response was to cast suspicion on Mr Goddard’s analysis. This is a desperate response from the Liberals, given the analysis was based on publicly available government figures.
This $51 million shortfall follows the Liberals’ $150 million cut to education funding in 2014, in which 260 staff lost their jobs, and the 45% federal funding cut for children with disabilities in June this year.
Tasmanian schools will continue to lag behind in literacy, numeracy and retention rates as long as the Liberals continues to deny them the resources they need, despite the best efforts of teachers and support staff.
The Hodgman Liberals must stop playing politics with education, and properly fund our children’s futures.