State schools are meant to be free. But right now Queensland parents are having to spend thousands of dollars in fees and resource costs every year.
This is because Queensland Labor has let our schools become some of the most underfunded in the country. Funding for Queensland state schools is falling short by $1.7 billion every year. This means fewer teachers, fewer resources for kids and more out-of-pocket expenses for families.
But we have a rare opportunity to change this – the school funding agreement between the state and federal governments is just about to be re-negotiated for the next five years. That’s why I recently introduced the Helping Families with School Costs Bill, kick-starting a historic inquiry into state school costs and funding.
Labor isn’t going to change their tune without a massive push from the community. Can you make a quick submission to the inquiry to make it clear that Queenslanders won’t stand for underfunded state schools?
In a wealthy state like Queensland – where our state government is sitting on a $12 billion surplus, where corporate profits are soaring – there’s no excuse for underfunding our state schools.
-----
How to make a quick and easy submission
1. Head to the Education Committee's webpage and click 'next'
2. Select if you are making a submission as an individual, or an organisation
3. Enter your contact details
4. Choose if you’d like your submission to be published with your name, or for your details to be kept confidential
5. Click ‘free text submission’ to make your submission, or upload a file
- Your own story/reflections on school funding
- How school underfunding and out-of-pocket expenses are affecting your family and your community
- How fully funding state schools and making them truly free would benefit your family and your community
- Submissions close December 1st
You can also make a submission by emailing [email protected] directly.
We encourage you to talk to your school community and encourage friends, colleagues and P&C to make their own submission.
---