Education funding set to grow under the Coalition

The Coalition is delivering on its commitments with Australian education funding to grow by $5.7 billion across the Education portfolio.

Minister for Education the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the Coalition Government is making important, financially responsible reforms that will help ensure more Australians get the opportunities they need.

“Investment in education will reach record levels under the Coalition, with overall funding amounting to $145.3 billion over the Forward Estimates,” Mr Pyne said.

“This Government is delivering for Australian schools by providing record recurrent funding of $64.5 billion over four years, to schools across the country,” he said. 

“In addition, the Coalition Government is delivering $1.2 billion that the previous government removed from schools in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

“We are putting students first in our schools and implementing key reforms, including a focus on teacher quality and school autonomy, that will help lift student outcomes.

“In higher education we are acting to ensure Australia is not left behind by the rapidly improving education systems in Asia.

“This reform package will ensure that our higher education system as a whole is better resourced.

“This Government will, for the first time in Australian history, provide support to all students, in all higher education institutions, whether universities, colleges or those TAFEs registered as higher education providers,” Mr Pyne said.

“Under the new higher education system we will also require that universities and other higher education providers spend $1 in every $5 of additional revenue raised on scholarships for disadvantaged students.

The Coalition is delivering for our schools with: 

• $243.8 million over four years for the National School Chaplaincy Programme. The renewed programme will be returned to its original intent, to provide funding for school chaplains. All schools will be invited to apply for the programme and can receive up to $20,000 per year. Schools in remote areas can receive up to $24,000 per year. More than 2,900 schools across Australia will benefit.
• $11.6 million to improve uptake of languages other than English including: providing $9.8 million for the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) trial; and $1.8 million for the development of new curricula under the Australian Curriculum, for Foundation to Year 10.
• $6.8 million in 2014-15 to assist non-government schools who have large numbers of indigenous boarders from remote areas to deliver improved services and provide effective additional support to boost school attendance and engagement.
• $5 million over 4 years to help ensure more students study science, technology, engineering and mathematics in primary and secondary schools through the Primary Connections: Linking science with literacy and Science by Doing science education programmes.

 This budget is securing the future of Australian higher education by: 

• creating more opportunities for students in low-socio economic and regional areas through a new scholarship and equity initiative; and expanding the demand driven Commonwealth funding system for students studying for higher education diplomas, advanced diplomas and associate degrees costing $371.5 million over three years.
• extending Commonwealth funding to all Australian higher education students in non-university higher education institutions studying bachelor courses costing $448.9 million over three years.
• freeing universities to set their own fees and compete for students.
• removing all HELP loan fees currently imposed on some students undertaking higher education and vocational education and training;
• maintaining the Higher Education Loans Programme (HELP) that sees the taxpayer support all students’ tuition fees upfront.
• $150 million for one year to continue the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). It supports major research infrastructure to encourage collaboration between the research sector, industry and government in Australia and internationally. 
• $139.5 million to deliver 100 new research positions per year under the Future Fellowships Scheme. The scheme provides four-year fellowships to outstanding mid-career researchers, strengthening Australia’s research capacity.
• $26 million for the Australian Research Council to accelerate research in dementia, part of a $200 million investment across Government.