In question time today Minister Josh Frydenberg confirmed that funding for NT Government Schools will be less than the rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index.
Minister Frydenburg was responding to a question from Member for Linigiari Warren Snowdon
This is an admission by the Turnbull Government that in real terms funding for Government schools in the NT is not increasing, not remaining the same but is going backwards.
In last month’s May Budget, Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon indicated quite clearly two features of the budget’s impact on funding for NT public schools.
- National growth for Government schools was going to grow by 5% but in the Territory the funding was to grow only by 1.3%.
- The funding growth for NT Government Schools of only 1.3% would not keep pace with the CPI
Minister Frydenber’s answer today is an admission by the Turnbull Government that funding to government schools in the coming decade will be decreasing.
This admission confirms the double cut the Turnbull Government 2017 Budget has delivered to Territory Government Schools.
In addition, Territory Independent and Catholic schools will not grow to the standard of the National Average.
The 2017 Turnbull Budget has not delivered for Territory Schools.
Disadvantage in both the Government and Non-Government sector is not being addressed and the Territory will fall further behind in the years ahead.