Greens to save our public schools with full funding commitment
Greens to save our public schools with full funding commitment | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Greens to save our public schools with full funding commitment 2025-01-16 The Greens are the only party committed to public schools with the announcement today of a plan to deliver 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to every public school by July 2026; the creation of a capital grants fund available only to government schools; and funding for airborne hazard risk reduction measures in all classrooms.
Under the Greens’ plan the Commonwealth share of spending on public schools will rise to 25% – except in the Northern Territory where it will be 40% – and the Morrison-era loophole that allows states and territories to deduct 4% of non-classroom costs from their SRS funding contribution will be abolished. The Greens will invest $6.8 billion over the forward estimates to save public schools.
The Greens will also establish a new grants fund for public schools to invest in infrastructure, reversing a 2017 Coalition decision that saw the Commonwealth abandon capital investment in public schools. The fund will disperse $1.25 billion in its first year, and $350 million annually after that. Funding will be allocated to states and territories based on the share of public schools and the needs of students in each jurisdiction.
And under the party’s “Safer Classrooms” commitment the Commonwealth will provide $388 million for all schools in Australia to purchase and install an air ventilation system and HEPA filter, as well as a carbon dioxide monitor, in each classroom and indoor communal space. Comments attributable to Greens spokesperson on primary and secondary education, Senator Penny Allman-Payne: “Every child deserves a high-quality, inclusive, safe and free public education.
It’s what strong societies are built on. “But under successive Labor and Liberal governments, our public school system has been left to rot, while a growing share of school spending shifts towards the private sector. “Under Labor, private schools are banking $51 million each day from the Commonwealth, while 98% of public schools receive less than the bare minimum funding.
That means overworked teachers, crumbling infrastructure and rising out-of-pocket costs for families already slammed by the cost-of-living crisis. “Public school teachers, students, parents and carers suffered through a decade of neglect under Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison. Labor promised them that they would end this nightmare by finally delivering full funding.
“But under Albanese’s plan, every single public school that is underfunded today will still be underfunded in a decade. “With Labor giving up on fighting inequality and the Liberals ideologically opposed to the very existence of public education, only the Greens are fighting for our public schools. “The Greens will save our public schools by delivering full funding from July 2026, and establishing a capital works fund so our kids have the classrooms and facilities they deserve.
“We will make sure that schools are healthy and productive environments by funding air ventilation systems, HEPA filters and carbon dioxide monitors in every classroom and indoor communal space. “This election the Greens can secure the balance of power and fight harder for the things that all Australians deserve: dental and mental into Medicare; real climate action; and genuinely affordable housing.
“Inequality continues to widen under Labor and the Liberals. The Greens will make corporations pay their fair share and invest in health and education for everyone. “We can’t keep electing the same two parties and expect anything to change.
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