Time for Tony to Guarantee School Funding

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Minister for Education Christopher Pyne have broken their promise on education, Member for Lalor Joanne Ryan said today.

“This is a breach of trust for every parent in our community, and in Australia” Ms Ryan said.

Since announcing the Government would walk away from the promised funding model, Mr Abbott has refused to guarantee that no school would be worse off.

“This move shows that this is not the government they said they’d be. It also demonstrates how little they care about the future of our kids”.

Ms Ryan said that as a former teacher and principal, she knew what Labor’s education funding model could do for local schools.

“There are many schools in this electorate with great stories to tell about the positive impact Federal Labor Government funding has had on student results, disproving Mr Pyne’s claim that money hasn’t improved outcomes.”

“I challenge Mr Pyne and Mr Abbott to come and meet local Principals and School Councils and listen to how these schools have used National Partnerships funding to improve classroom learning for students.”

“What we now require is the delivery of what was promised. A national needs-based system so money is guaranteed for the kids that need it most.”

“But what Mr Abbott is proposing is a return to the old broken system where inequalities go unaddressed.”

“Local parents are rightly concerned about what this will mean for their children and I will fight to ensure their voices are heard.”