As the election draws closer many voters are seeking clarification on what is being offered by the two major parties with regards to the issues that may impact on their families and their livelihoods.
Looking at education, readers have most probably heard of the catchphrase ‘I give a Gonski’. For the uninitiated, Gonski refers to a report, commissioned by the federal government in 2010, which recommended that to provide a world-class education for all students, a fair and equitable funding model would need to be adopted. Acting on the Gonski recommendation, the current Labor government has signed up for providing schools in Richmond 42.8 million dollars of federal funding in a six-year plan while the opposition has promised 12.8 million dollars over four years.
Clearly, this would be a shortfall of 30 million dollars on the Gonski recommendations under a coalition government.
As representatives of our public education system in this electorate, we must insist that all political parties commit to the National Agreement on schools funding, that is, the full six-year funding system, so that our students can receive the additional support, resources and technology they need and deserve.
Ross McKinnon, secretary, Athol Lane, vice-president, Elizabeth O’Connor, treasurer
Bangalow Byron Bay Teachers Association
See the Echo’s full election coverage on the page Election 2013
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