MEDIA RELEASE

23 May 2022

Parents call on the new Federal Government to make public education a priority.

The Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of New South Wales congratulates the new Federal Government on their election and looks forward to a productive relationship to benefit more than 820,000 students in NSW public schools.

P&C Federation President Natalie Walker said: “We are pleased with the commitments for Australian public schools made by new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the election campaign, particularly measures to reduce funding inequities between government and non-government schools.”

Mrs Walker said Labor’s spokeswoman on education, Tanya Plibersek, met with the Board of P&C Federation NSW during the election campaign to outline Labor’s policies, which include $440 million for COVID-19 “bounce back” measures for better ventilation in schools, building upgrades and mental health support.

“We welcome the Schools Upgrade Fund, which will deliver to public schools capital funding from the Commonwealth for new buildings that will start to reduce the longstanding and extreme bias in federal funding directed to private schools. Our parents have argued strongly that this existing inequity is unfair and disadvantages public school students,” Mrs Walker said.

“We will also continue our longstanding advocacy for all Australian public schools to be properly funded under the Schooling Resourcing Standard process.”

P&C Federation NSW last month raised a raft of concerns with Ms Plibersek, who is expected to be appointed as the next federal Minister for Education. These include the need for increased school funding and capital grants, an overhaul of Initial Teacher Education, improving air quality in schools, and a recovery fund to help public schools recover from natural disasters such as floods and bushfires.

P&C Federation NSW is the largest volunteer organisation in education in NSW, with more than 5,000 elected office-bearers and 1,773 active member associations in metropolitan, rural and remote public schools.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Natalie Walker, President, P&C Federation
Email: media@pandc.org.au
Mobile: 0418 163 665