Hundreds of Victorian principals, education support staff and teachers will rally outside the office of Education Minister Ben Carroll, to express their anger at the Allan Labor government’s funding cuts to public schools.
School staff anger is palpable with recent revelations in Parliament that Victorian public school students are being cheated of $663 million in funding every year that the Allan Labor government doesn’t deliver.
The Allan Government have decided to deny public schools billions of dollars by delaying their commitment to fully fund public schools to 2031.
Australian Education Union Victorian Branch President, Justin Mullaly said that school staff are furious at the duplicity of the Allan Labor Government and their funding con job.
Read the AEU Joint Primary and Secondary Council resolution condemning delayed funding here.
“AEU members are rallying today to demand the Education Minister fixes his government’s mess and acts to ensure every Victorian public school is fully funded. And we will keep campaigning and rallying until the funding cuts are resolved,” Mr Mullaly said.
“Right now, Victoria’s public schools are the lowest funded in the country, and our teachers are the lowest paid, with education support staff and school leaders undervalued.
“To deny this funding during a chronic shortage of teachers shows how out of touch the Labor government is. Valuing and respecting school staff through fair and decent pay is a key way to retain existing employees and attract the next generation to our profession.
“The idea that Victoria is the ‘education state’ is simply nonsense when the Allan Labor government are cutting and running from public education funding.
“Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll need to explain why they do not value Victorian public school students and their teachers, principals, and education support staff.
“Schools in NSW and other states and territories are already funded to the level which is being denied to Victorian public schools because of funding cuts by the Premier and her government.
“The Allan Labor Government must deliver full funding in a fair and meaningful way. This will ensure Victorian public school principals can attract and retain teachers and education support staff, reduce class sizes, and provide more of the individual support every student needs.
Media contact: Chris Arnott – 0452 616 737
19 June 2025