Premier

Bracks Review Highlights Impact Of Federal Funding Cuts

02 September 2016

The Andrews Labor Government today released its response to the independent review into Victoria’s education funding, led by former Premier the Hon Steve Bracks AC.

The Bracks Review was released in April and found that needs-based funding is critical to ensuring young Victorians – particularly our most vulnerable – get the best possible education.

The Labor Government will consider all key funding recommendations of the review as part of the State Budget process.

Delivering the reforms has been made more difficult by the Turnbull Government’s decision to walk away from funding commitments made under the Gonski deal, which will leave some of our most vulnerable Victorian students almost $1 billion dollars worse off each year.

The Labor Government has already begun implementing the non-funding based recommendations. The four focus areas include:

  • Shared goals between all schools sectors – government, Catholic and independent
  • Better information regarding how school funding is allocated and the relationship between school funding and student outcomes
  • Targeting funding and resources to students in need
  • Strengthening the performance of our schools system by improving school governance, supporting and developing the school workforce and achieving excellence in teaching and learning.

The Labor Government has already delivered over $5 billion in Education State funding to improve student outcomes.

This includes a record $1.8 billion to build new schools and upgrade existing schools, and an additional $1.4 billion to help support teachers and students, including those most in need.

A copy of the Response to the Bracks Review into Government School Funding is available at: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/fundingreview.aspxExternal Link

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“Recommendations from the Bracks Review will help us build an education system that is needs-based, student-focused, transparent and performance-driven.”

“The Bracks Review makes it quite clear that needs-based funding is vital to break the cycle of disadvantage, yet the Turnbull Government is slashing almost $1 billion a year from Victorian students.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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