The Australian Education Union (AEU) said today that Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s proposed cuts to the Education Department were the tip of the iceberg regarding his plans for public education.
Peter Dutton said today he commits to the education funding that is in the Federal Budget.
However, last week’s Budget does not include the $2.8 billion public school funding deal signed with QLD the day before the Budget.
“Peter Dutton's position on school funding also doesn’t stack up considering his proposed cuts and the conditions he would impose on funding,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.
“Mr Dutton has doubled down today on his Trump-style commitment to slash the Department of Education although he refuses to say how many jobs will go. He also said funding to states and territories would be conditional on schools only teaching what he wants to see taught.”
“We’ve seen this ideological attack on the curriculum before with Howard’s history wars. This fake claim of indoctrination is just a way to hold money back from public schools. This is not an education policy – this is a destructive attack on public school teachers and schools.”
“Clearly a Trump style gutting of the Department of Education is going to be a part of the $7 billion a year in cuts he wants to make.”
“This is also just the tip of the iceberg, as we are yet to see any details about his education policy.”
“Peter Dutton has never once supported the full funding of public schools. Not once has he said he would lift the government’s Schooling Resource Standard share from 20% to a minimum of 25%, as the Albanese Government has committed to.”
“In 2013 the Coalition promised to honour Gonski agreements and then ripped them up and cut $30 billion from schools in the 2014 budget.
“Now we are facing another attack from the Coalition, that will be deeply felt by public schools across the nation.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Kylie Jensen – 0402 298 728
2 April 2025