Public education major winner from Victoria budget that delivered the goods
The 2020 Victorian budget delivered the goods and puts the recent federal budget to shame. Especially when it comes to public education.
The Victorian budget was a bold response to the worst pandemic and economic crisis in 100 years. The Federal budget and Victoria State budget both massively increased government debt. But while the Federal Government provided some sugar hit tax cuts for individuals and business the Victorian Labor Government invested into public goods. Public goods that will have a lasting positive impact for generations.
Photo credit: Joe Armao.
The government will build 12,000 public housing units over the next four years. It will help solve homelessness and provide low-cost housing for many thousands of people. And it will create thousands of jobs.
Billions invested in rail to build the Suburban Rail Loop and airport link. This initiative will create thousands of jobs and leave a lasting legacy of improved public transport.
$868.6 million invested to overhaul Victoria’s mental health system.
$797 million to make households more energy efficient (including solar power incentives).
Hundreds of millions invested on programs to support jobseekers and encourage businesses to hire. This will include subsidising the wages of up to 10,000 new workers (specifically women). Plus 80,000 additional free TAFE and training places in courses linked to in-demand jobs.
More than $2 billion invested to build new hospitals and upgrading existing ones.
It also seeks to address insecure work issues and COVID-19. There is a pilot of additional paid sick leave for workers in select industries. And it seeks to push the federal government to introduce minimum staffing ratios in private and NGO aged care facilities.
And public education was a major winner
Victoria’s budget delivered important funding increases for public schools including extra funding for additional teachers and support staff, better support for students with a disability, and school building upgrades and new schools. While there is still more to be done, it’s a bold package.
Disability funding
The $1.6 billion for students with disability will double the number of students receiving extra support. And it will mean 1,730 more teachers and support staff in schools.
The method for determining student eligibility will also change. A strengths-based process will focus on student need. And it will identify adjustments schools can make to help students with disability. It means that some students, unable to get funded support for autism, dyslexia or complex behaviours, will now get support.
New school buildings and infrastructure
A further $1.9 billion is allocated for school building works. It brings the total amount announced this year for school infrastructure to $3 billion.
Approximately $1.28 billion allocated for 162 school upgrades
$85 million will expand seven existing schools
$388.8 million will go toward improving facilities at 39 specialist schools
More than $147 million allocated to acquire land for 11 new schools.
The power of unions to create social change
The Victoria branch of the union I work for (the AEU) has campaigned on many of these issues. It’s a major win for parents, teachers, support staff, students and the wider community. And it demonstrates the important change-making role of workers joining their union and campaigning for big social change.
This State budget stands in stark contrast to the Federal budget that delivered no new funding for public schools. The Coalition governments education policy leaves public schools short-changed by $19 billion over the next four years with zero funding for much needed capital works.
