❓ Hon. Donna Faragher questions the Minister for Education and Training regarding the WA-Commonwealth bilateral agreement on quality schools reform, specifically concerning funding contributions and their impact on public schools. The Minister defends the agreement, highlighting increased Commonwealth funding and overall funding increases for WA schools.
AnsweredQoN 1327Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
QUALITY SCHOOLS REFORM —
BILATERAL AGREEMENT
1327. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question without notice 1304 asked yesterday regarding the bilateral
agreement signed this week between WA and the commonwealth on quality schools
reform.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that under the agreement, the commonwealth's funding
contribution has increased from 15.37 per cent this year to 20 per cent in
2023, and the state's funding contribution has reduced from 84.43 per
cent this year to 75 per cent in 2023?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that by 2022, the state's funding contribution will be
at the minimum level of 75 per cent?
(3) Can the
minister confirm that by 2022, under the new arrangements, public schools will
be funded to 95 per cent of the schooling resource standard?
(4) If yes to
(1), (2) or (3), why is the state reducing its funding contribution by nearly
10 per cent between 2018 and 2023 and not maintaining a funding contribution
that is higher than the minimum, as has been the case in previous years?
(5) As a result
of the state's funding reduction, can the minister confirm whether
schools will be better off in real terms over the life of the agreement?
BILATERAL AGREEMENT
1327. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question without notice 1304 asked yesterday regarding the bilateral
agreement signed this week between WA and the commonwealth on quality schools
reform.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that under the agreement, the commonwealth's funding
contribution has increased from 15.37 per cent this year to 20 per cent in
2023, and the state's funding contribution has reduced from 84.43 per
cent this year to 75 per cent in 2023?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that by 2022, the state's funding contribution will be
at the minimum level of 75 per cent?
(3) Can the
minister confirm that by 2022, under the new arrangements, public schools will
be funded to 95 per cent of the schooling resource standard?
(4) If yes to
(1), (2) or (3), why is the state reducing its funding contribution by nearly
10 per cent between 2018 and 2023 and not maintaining a funding contribution
that is higher than the minimum, as has been the case in previous years?
(5) As a result
of the state's funding reduction, can the minister confirm whether
schools will be better off in real terms over the life of the agreement?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
bilateral agreement sets out the minimum funding contributions from both the
commonwealth and state governments over the life of the agreement. The minimum
funding contributions are expressed as a percentage of the schooling resource
standard—75 per cent for the government sector and 25 per cent for the
non-government sector. The full bilateral agreement, including funding
contributions, is publicly available.
(4) The agreement
negotiated by the state reflects Western Australia receiving a fairer share of
funding from the commonwealth that, by the end of the agreement, will no longer
penalise the state for historically funding schools at a higher rate than any
other state. The approach taken in Western Australia will also bring the state
into alignment with the contribution provided by other states. A key factor in
the state's funding share of the schooling resource standard declining
over the life of the agreement relates to the schooling resource standard being
indexed by the commonwealth at a higher rate—at least three per cent a year—compared
with state-based cost growth of around one per cent.
(5) Over the life
of the agreement, public schools in Western Australia will receive funding
increases. The agreement ensures that about $200 million of additional funding
flows into public education over the life of
the agreement. The agreement positions WA to retain its status as the
best-funded state education system.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
bilateral agreement sets out the minimum funding contributions from both the
commonwealth and state governments over the life of the agreement. The minimum
funding contributions are expressed as a percentage of the schooling resource
standard—75 per cent for the government sector and 25 per cent for the
non-government sector. The full bilateral agreement, including funding
contributions, is publicly available.
(4) The agreement
negotiated by the state reflects Western Australia receiving a fairer share of
funding from the commonwealth that, by the end of the agreement, will no longer
penalise the state for historically funding schools at a higher rate than any
other state. The approach taken in Western Australia will also bring the state
into alignment with the contribution provided by other states. A key factor in
the state's funding share of the schooling resource standard declining
over the life of the agreement relates to the schooling resource standard being
indexed by the commonwealth at a higher rate—at least three per cent a year—compared
with state-based cost growth of around one per cent.
(5) Over the life
of the agreement, public schools in Western Australia will receive funding
increases. The agreement ensures that about $200 million of additional funding
flows into public education over the life of
the agreement. The agreement positions WA to retain its status as the
best-funded state education system.
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