“The IEUA expresses its disappointment that certainty of funding for the non-government school sector for next year has been put at risk by the Opposition” said Chris Watt, Federal Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia.

“In the current economic climate, now is the time for certainty, not for political point scoring” he said.

“The fact is that the jobs of our members are put at risk by delaying the passage of legislation to provide funds to pay wages”

“The IEUA has long supported the need to reform the current federal government SES funding model,” he said.

“The previous federal government’s approach to the funding of schools was not transparent” said Mr Watt “and it is a tragedy that a proper and open review was not conducted by the Howard government in 2007”.

“Consequently, we are left in the situation where schools need certainty for the next funding period, our members deserve security in their employment” he said

“Forty two billion dollars is on the table for school education for the 4 year period 2009 to 2012, and there is a sensible and appropriate commitment that no school will lose funding from the federal government.”

“The IEUA supports a full and open review of the current funding arrangements over the next four year period.”

Contact:

Chris Watt
Federal Secretary Independent Education Union
Ph (03) 9254 1830 0419 259 143