Premier Will Hodgman should seize the opportunity presented by today’s visit by the Prime Minister to urgently lobby for a rethink on his cuts to education funding.
“Before the election, Mr Hodgman committed in writing to publicly and stridently condemn any cuts to the Better Schools (Gonski) funding by the Commonwealth, but he is yet to follow through,” Greens Education spokesperson Nick McKim said.
“In an unprecedented move the architect of these ground-breaking school funding reforms, Mr David Gonski, has publicly spoken out against the Abbott government’s planned cuts to Australian schools.”
“The Prime Minister’s visit to the state is a perfect opportunity for Mr Hodgman and Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff to stand up for Tasmanian schools and students, reiterate Mr Gonski’s concerns, and urge Mr Abbott to reconsider his planned school funding cuts.”
“Tony Abbott and Christopher Pyne have refused to hear the pleas of students, families and school communities, but they must heed the Mr Gonski’s assessment, and Mr Hodgman must also demand to be heard on behalf of Tasmanians.”
“Will Hodgman has repeatedly stated he will keep fighting for Tasmania’s health and education funding, and whether he has seized the opportunity presented by the Prime Minister’s visit to demand a backflip on Gonski funding cuts will expose whether those statements were empty rhetoric or not,” Mr McKim said.