❓ Hon. Ravlich questions the Minister for Education about alleged resource stripping from WA schools amidst funding model reform, citing Professor Teese's concerns. The Minister refutes the claim, highlighting increased funding.
AnsweredQoN 570Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — STAFF REDUCTIONS
570. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to
the Minister for Education:
I refer to comments made by Professor Teese published on page
31 of today's The West Australian .
The article states —
the Government was ''not
well-advised'' to introduce a major reform to the funding model while at
the same time stripping resources out of the school system.
''We need to be heavily
resourcing our schools at this stage, not withdrawing them,'' he said.
(1) Why is the
minister introducing major reform to the funding model at the same time as
stripping resources out of WA schools?
(2) Why is the minister stripping WA schools of resources
rather than investing in them?
570. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to
the Minister for Education:
I refer to comments made by Professor Teese published on page
31 of today's The West Australian .
The article states —
the Government was ''not
well-advised'' to introduce a major reform to the funding model while at
the same time stripping resources out of the school system.
''We need to be heavily
resourcing our schools at this stage, not withdrawing them,'' he said.
(1) Why is the
minister introducing major reform to the funding model at the same time as
stripping resources out of WA schools?
(2) Why is the minister stripping WA schools of resources
rather than investing in them?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1)–(2)
I have been through this a couple of times this week. I repeat: we are not
stripping Western Australian schools of resources. We have injected an
additional $300 million into the current education budget. That is in the
budget. In addition to that, as a government we have injected an additional
$1.6 billion—that is an additional $1.6 billion—since we took
office.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : So he is wrong?
Hon PETER COLLIER : Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich asked a
question; I am responding.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is he wrong?
Hon PETER COLLIER : Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich can make that
assertion, if she likes . I am saying that I wonder whether Professor
Teese knows that since 2008 we have increased funding in our education system
by 53 per cent. That is $1.6 billion. I wonder whether the professor also knows
that that includes an additional $300 million dollars in this year's
budget. Once again, we are not cutting the education budget; we are increasing
the education budget. Our schools are very well resourced. They are very well
serviced in terms of teachers, administrative staff, teachers'
assistants, gardeners, cleaners and everyone. We are better resourced than any
other state in terms of education. That needs to be remembered. Our teachers
are better paid than teachers in any other state, and that needs to be
remembered. The assertion that we are cutting back on education funding is
inaccurate. We continue to increase funding in all our government schools.
question.
(1)–(2)
I have been through this a couple of times this week. I repeat: we are not
stripping Western Australian schools of resources. We have injected an
additional $300 million into the current education budget. That is in the
budget. In addition to that, as a government we have injected an additional
$1.6 billion—that is an additional $1.6 billion—since we took
office.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : So he is wrong?
Hon PETER COLLIER : Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich asked a
question; I am responding.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is he wrong?
Hon PETER COLLIER : Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich can make that
assertion, if she likes . I am saying that I wonder whether Professor
Teese knows that since 2008 we have increased funding in our education system
by 53 per cent. That is $1.6 billion. I wonder whether the professor also knows
that that includes an additional $300 million dollars in this year's
budget. Once again, we are not cutting the education budget; we are increasing
the education budget. Our schools are very well resourced. They are very well
serviced in terms of teachers, administrative staff, teachers'
assistants, gardeners, cleaners and everyone. We are better resourced than any
other state in terms of education. That needs to be remembered. Our teachers
are better paid than teachers in any other state, and that needs to be
remembered. The assertion that we are cutting back on education funding is
inaccurate. We continue to increase funding in all our government schools.
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