In the wake of today’s High Court decision overturning John Howard and Julia Gillard’s school chaplaincy program, the Greens are offering to work with the government to ensure the remainder of the $222 million is spent to the benefit of students in employing properly qualified counsellors and student support officers.

The need for fair and equitable investment in Australia’s education to secure a better future for all Australians is urgent, and legislation to implement the Gonski reforms must be introduced and passed this year, the Australian Greens said today.

“With the world changing so fast around us, giving our children the best possible school education is vital to making life better for all Australians,” Australian Greens leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

With a new report confirming that underfunding of public schools is increasing inequity in education leaked today, the Australian Greens again called on the Gillard government to release the Gonski review and move to reform the school funding scheme this year.

"The current schools funding model is skewed to increasing inequity in access to education and it is long overdue for reform," Australian Greens Acting Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Christine Milne press conference in Hobart on Gina Rinehart and media ownership, education funding, political donations and more

Whilst Australians recognise the pressing need to support students with disabilities in our schools, the Prime Minister's announcement of a $47.9 million funding allocation for children with disabilities in NSW government schools needs to be assessed for its adequacy, against the recommendations of the Gonski review into schools funding, Greens Acting Leader, Christine Milne said today.

"Prime Minister Gillard should release the Gonski review now ahead of legislating for increased funding for schools this year.

The Australian Greens have secured an additional five million dollars to boost childcare services around the country, including 63 centres in Tasmania as they transition to the National Quality Framework.

Greens Senator for Tasmania, Christine Milne said grants of up to $5000 will be directed to services in areas of disadvantage which can be used to hire temporary staff while permanent staff do training courses, and update their OH&S requirements or buy play materials for children which relate to
meeting the new standards.

The Australian Greens will support the flood levy in the House of Representatives and the Senate after important gains from the Government on their proposed funding cuts.

Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and MP Adam Bandt took their concerns directly to the government and negotiated a good outcome that will release funding for flood recovery and protect key programs.

The Australian Greens will support the flood levy in the House of Representatives and the Senate after important gains from the Government on their proposed funding cuts, Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and MP Adam Bandt said in Canberra today.

“The Greens have taken our concerns directly to the government and have negotiated a good outcome that will release funding for flood recovery and protect key programs,” Senator Brown said.