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The Australian Education Union has condemned Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson plans to abolish Free TAFE, a program that has provided vocational education opportunities to hundreds of thousands of Australians.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has declared his hand on public education, saying school funding isn't an issue in his address to the Liberal Party 2025 campaign launch.

The Australian Education Union is calling on the Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton to immediately come clean on his plans for cuts to public education.

The Australian Education Union has today welcomed the passing of the Free TAFE Bill (2024), which will be life changing for TAFE students, teachers and for sectors of the economy facing skill shortages.

The Australian Education Union welcomes the Albanese Government’s commitment to public education in the 2025 Federal Budget, which will see significant investment in public education across Australia.

Class sizes in WA public schools are among the highest in the country. What bigger classes mean for students is that they get less individual attention, which can significantly affect their learning. What it means for teachers is a higher workload, less time for teaching and a considerable impact on their ability to safely manage their classrooms.

Today’s announcement of a funding deal between the Albanese Government and the Tasmanian Government will lock in inequality for public schools, students and their families across the next decade.

The extent of inequity in Australia’s school funding has been revealed in new research, showing that almost double the number of private schools in Western Australia now receive more combined government funding (Commonwealth and state) per student than public schools of very similar size, location and with similar student needs.

Contrary to claims by the Cook and Albanese governments, the bilateral agreement signed by the state and Commonwealth governments on Tuesday will still leave public school students in Western Australia underfunded and not fully funded as claimed.

The 2024 NAPLAN results have delivered a damning indictment on the failure of governments to fully fund public schools and show, once again, the urgency of the Albanese Government delivering on their pre-election promise for public schools to be funded at 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard.

A review into public education in WA headed by Dr Carmen Lawrence has found the teaching profession is at breaking point, with many teachers planning to leave the sector.

A review into public education headed by Dr Carmen Lawrence has found the teaching profession is at breaking point, with regional teachers and school leaders not getting the support they need. Commissioned by the State School Teachers’ Union of WA, the review took more than 12 months, received over 100 submissions from both individuals and peak bodies, held community forums in 11 regional towns and conducted two statewide online sessions.

The Australian Education Union today welcomed the recruitment campaign launched by the Prime Minister but said a far greater investment in the teaching profession and public schools was needed to end chronic shortages and ensure teachers have the time and support to meet the needs of every child.

The Western Australian launch of a national road trip to help secure full funding for public schools is taking place in Perth today.

Today we acknowledge the elders and custodians of our diverse Nations and Countries. They are the knowledge holders and the educators of our communities. They have led us through the Referendum process and will continue to lead us as a nation that is still learning how to listen, to learn and to heal together.

The following are highlights of education funding allocated in the 2022-23 Federal Budget delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on 25 October 2022.

The Australian Education Union will consult with members across the country on the recommendations of the draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, released today.

AEU media release

Consider this quote, which comes from one of over 400 school leaders and union reps who completed our survey Managing Teacher Relief in WA Public Schools: