NATS SHOULD PUT COUNTRY SCHOOLS BEFORE POLITICS

Media Release

Kate Ellis

Shadow Minister for Education
 Shadow Minister for Early Childhood

29 Oct 2015

Labor has today called on Nationals MPs and Senators to take a stand against the Liberals' cuts to regional, rural and remote schools.

Shadow Education Minister, Kate Ellis, has written to Nationals parliamentarians urging them to put their electorates first and political deals second.

Under Labor's Gonski reforms, 40 per cent of the additional investment was set to benefit country schools.

Instead, the Government's cuts will leave over 1.5 million country students more than $12.5 billion worse off over the next decade.

Even NSW Nationals Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli has conceded communities represented by the Nationals have the most at stake:

"Why was I the strongest advocate across all education ministers? I think it's because I'm the only National Party minister.Our electorates benefit the most." (ADRIAN PICCOLI - THE AUSTRALIAN - 14 JUNE 2014)

"On average, country students have lower Year 12 completion rates, score lower in NAPLAN and are up to 2 years behind their city peers in literacy, maths and science," Shadow Education Minister, Kate Ellis, said.

"Labor's Gonski reforms were designed to close this gap, but the Government has walked away from years five and six, as well as cutting $30 billion from schools over the next decade.

"Labor believes that every student - no matter where they live - deserves a great education.

"Country students need action now and deserve so much more than cuts from the Liberals and indifference from the Nationals.

"It's not too late for the Nationals to do the right thing and demand Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals reverse their school cuts."