Milthorpe: A great commitment is needed.

Commonwealth Governments need to make a greater commitment to public education, according to Independent candidate for Farrer Michelle Milthorpe. 

She says the Albanese Government’s pledge to deliver adequate funding by 2034, although a step in the right direction, is still “not good enough”. 

Mrs Milthorpe met with members of the NSW Teachers Federation to discuss the Albanese governments’ commitment to fully fund every Public school in the country. Whilst the promised implementation is welcome, Mrs Milthorpe is disappointed with the timeline proposed. 

Having trained and worked as a school teacher, Mrs Milthorpe understands the inadequate funding in our public education system and if elected to represent the seat of Farrer in Federal Parliament, she says advocating for education funding will be a priority. 

“Education is the foundation of opportunity, yet our public schools remain chronically underfunded,” Ms Milthorpe said. 

“Despite the critical role public schools play in shaping Australia’s future, they continue to receive inadequate financial support compared to private schools.

“The recent agreement to increase federal funding to 25 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by 2034 is a step forward, but it does not address the immediate and pressing needs of public schools today. 

“We must act now to ensure that every child, regardless of their background or postcode, has access to a high-quality education,” Mrs Milthorpe said. 

She explained the Gonski Review, released more than 14 years ago, recommended a needs-based funding model to ensure all students receive the resources they need to succeed. 

“Yet the stark disparity remains: only 1.3 per cent of public schools are funded at the SRS, compared to 98 per cent of private schools. The slow pace of implementing these recommendations has widened the gap between public and private education, exacerbating inequalities in student outcomes,” Mrs Milthorpe said. 

“Governments must be held accountable for delivering promised funding and ensuring that public schools reach 100 per cent of the SRS,” Mrs Milthorpe continued. 

If elected, Mrs Milthorpe has committed to advocating for: 

• Accelerating Full Funding to Public Schools by 2028 
• A Fair and Transparent School Funding Model based on needs 
• Ending the Disparity Between Public and Private School Funding Growth 
• Accountability in Federal and State Education Spending 

Mrs Milthorpe said recent statements from the Liberal Party suggesting that “if you don’t pay for something you don’t value it” raise serious concerns about their commitment to public education. “Education must remain a right, not a privilege. I will stand against policies that devalue or underfund our public school system,” she said.