Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Outcome 2 - Schools and Youth
Question No. EW0576_13

Senator WRIGHT: 

What Commonwealth funding is allocated for the Trade Training Centre program in each of the following years: 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016?

Answer

Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Outcome 2 - Schools and Youth
Question No. EW0575_13

Senator WRIGHT: 

Australian Greens spokesperson on Schools Senator Penny Wright is calling on the Government to act quickly to address educational disadvantage amongst Indigenous students and remote schools in light of NAPLAN results released today.

 The NAPLAN 2012 National Report again showed students in remote areas were performing significantly below the levels of children attending schools in cities.

The Gonski school funding reforms must be introduced quicker than the Federal Government's six-year timetable in light of new reports highlighting Australia's poor literacy and numeracy standards, says Australian Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright.

"These reports today are the latest of a whole number of studies which show Australia's performance in education is nowhere near where it should be," Senator Wright said.

Ahead of COAG talks on implementing the Gonski model for school funding reforms, the Australian Greens are urging our nation's state Education Ministers to negotiate in good faith and collaborate to put the national interest first and foremost.

"All levels of government need to work together and focus squarely on what this is really about: our children. Schools funding reform is long overdue," Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright, said.

Audio of the press conference by Senator Milne and Senator Wright on Gonski school funding reforms and recognition for peacekeepers

The public have every right to be disappointed in the Government’s weak and legally unenforceable Australian Education Bill, says Australian Greens Spokesperson on Schools, Senator Penny Wright.

“We have been waiting for over a year for this Government to act on the Gonski funding review and this Bill is simply not good enough,” Senator Wright said.

Government legislation to improve Australia’s school system should be introduced before the end of the year in light of further evidence the nation is falling behind education targets, Australian Greens spokesperson for Schools Senator Penny Wright said.

“We have heard a lot from this Government on education, but it is time for some action,” Senator Wright said.

Under questioning today, the Government avoided outlining its action-plan for achieving the Asian Language outcomes set out in its Asian White Paper.

“This Government continues to dance around the question of how it will fund its Asian Language aspirations. We need action, not more talk,” Senator Penny Wright, Greens Spokesperson for Schools, said.

“Not only did the Government not provide details on Asian Languages, they continue to be unable to give details on how they will implement and fund the Gonski schools reforms.