I'll just make the point that being concerned is not the same thing as making a commitment, and that won't cut it when it comes to the proper funding that's needed for students.
Minister, the real story here is what the Australian Education Union (AEU) has put out in a withering media release just now. They are devastated.
The 2024-25 State Budget manages to send lutruwita/Tasmania into substantial further debt without addressing the major challenges facing the state and its people.
Honourable Speaker, this morning in question time, the Premier referred to comments I made regarding planned infrastructure spending in the upcoming state budget. He described me and, through me, the Greens, as being anti-school buildings, anti-roads and anti upgrading hospitals. I want to take this opportunity to correct the record.
Compared to the rest of the nation, Tasmanian students, again, still lag behind their counterparts interstate in literacy and numeracy.
Another year, another set of terrible NAPLAN results for Tasmania, and another round of finger pointing from State and Federal governments. Tasmania deserves better. It’s important to acknowledge teachers and other school staff are doing their best to deliver quality education to our students, under increasingly difficult circumstances.
When those children are unable to be assessed and receive the early intervention that they need prior to commencing school this impacts on their ability to engage with school and learn, and affects their whole future potential.
I will start by unpacking my perspective on safe and secure jobs and outline that it is not just about the economy and we have to weave into this the human element as well.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for bringing this motion forward today and giving us the opportunity to discuss a review and the significant challenges facing the education system.
Are you as minister involved in discussions with your agency and your ministerial colleagues that will deliver cuts to the education budget or can you today rule that out?