Every school in Gippsland will receive increased funding now that the Coalition Government’s new funding model for education has passed through Parliament.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the funding model reflected recommendations by the Gonski Review and delivered the biggest ever reform in federal schools funding.
“Importantly, every school in the Gippsland electorate will receive an increase in funding under the new arrangement,” Mr Chester.
“We are providing funding certainty that will benefit rural and regional areas.”
The Federal Government plan will increase education funding by $23.5 billion over 10 years from 2018-27, which brings the total spend to $247.1 billion.
“The new legislation makes clear the autonomy of a school authority to distribute the funding it receives from the Commonwealth on a needs-based funding arrangement,” Mr Chester said.
“This means the Catholic school system still has the autonomy to decide how it allocates block funding to individual schools – and given that every school will receive an increased allocation, there is no reason to expect local school fees should increase,” Mr Chester said.
Mr Chester said the passing of the legislation through the Senate was a breakthrough in the long running debate.
“The total funding will go up. The funding per Gippsland school will go up,” Mr Chester said.
“Labor promised to increase funding but never budgeted the money to do so.
“The Coalition is delivering a real increase to funding education and the next step is to make sure we get great educational outcomes.”