Labor MPs have slammed the federal government’s Gonski 2.0 reforms, saying Wyndham schools will be shortchanged by $19 million out of the deal in the next two years.
Federal Lalor MP Joanne Ryan and state Werribee MP Tim Pallas said the government’s decision to scrap the initial Gonski funding model would cause funding uncertainty among Wyndham schools and result in huge funding losses.
Under the new model, the federal government would fund 20 per cent of the base funding amount for state schools and 80 per cent for non-government schools.
Figures provided by Mr Pallas’s office show Manor Lakes P-12 College stands to lose up to $1.5 million over the next two years under the new agreement, while The Grange P-12 College will be $1.3 million worse off. Hoppers Crossing Secondary, Tarneit P-9 and Warringa Park colleges stand to lose $1.2 million.
Mr Pallas said that when broken down, 29 Wyndham schools across Werribee, Tarneit and Altona would have to make do with up to $19 million less.
“Families in Werribee deserve better than a government that hacks away at school funding,” he said.
“Students in Werribee will be the ones to lose out from Malcolm Turnbull’s cuts.”
Ms Ryan said the reforms would plunge schools into funding uncertainty.
“In schools right now, they’ll be in a state of flux,” she said. “Plans will have been thrown out the window and uncertainty will be what’s happening.”
But federal Education and Training Minister Simon Birmingham said the reforms, which will come into effect next year, included a $372 million funding boost for Wyndham schools over the next decade.
“For the first time, every student will get the support they need no matter their background or where they live,” Mr Birmingham said.
“Our Gonski needs-based funding plan will ensure Wyndham schools get their fair share of funding … but it also sets an expectation that the Andrews Labor government will have to properly fund our schools.”
