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Media Release
$870 MILLION MORE FOR EDUCATION
11 May 1999
The Howard Government is committing over $11 billion per annum over the budget and
forward estimates period, to develop stronger, more equitable and vibrant education and
training sectors into the next millennium. This Budget sees increased funding of $870
million for education over the next four years.
This money will support higher standards, increased opportunity and greater choice in
education for all Australians and in 1999-2000 represents an increase of $183 million over
the previous year.
The $11 billion includes approximately $5 billion for schooling, $4.2 billion for
universities and $1.6 billion to support vocational education and training.
Budget commitments will fund a record number of students in Australian schools,
attending universities and undertaking training.
"In 1999 numbers of students in school and post-school education are the highest
in Australian history with over 5.4 million Australians taking advantage of the wide range
of choice and opportunities the Howard Government is providing in education," said Dr
Kemp.
"Higher standards and a sound skill base are the greatest competitive advantage we
can provide our workforce in the global economy. Schools, universities and training
providers are a priority investment for the Government."
Outlined below is a summary of major priorities and budget initiatives:
Schools
- Over the next four year funding period (quadrennium) Commonwealth spending on government
schools will increase by almost $1 billion above the previous four year funding period. In
1999 direct Commonwealth funding to government schools increased by 6.8 per cent ($115
million) over the previous year.
- Reforms to raise literacy and numeracy standards in the early years of school will be
extended to secondary level with additional funding of $131.1 million over four years for
early and middle years.
- Australia’s students and teachers will benefit from a $77.7 million Quality Teacher
Programme over three years to update teachers’ skills.
- A further $19.8 million over four years will be provided to the school drug education
programme, bringing the total commitment to school drug education to $27.3 million under
the National Illicit Drug Strategy to help schools with the fight against drugs. This
builds on the existing commitment of over $7.5 million.
A new funding model for non-government schools will be introduced and the current system
based on the Education Resources Index (ERI) will be abandoned. The new system will be
based on the socio-economic status (SES) of school communities. This is a further
significant step forward for educational equity and choice. The Government will also
maintain capital funding for non-government schools at 1999 levels from 2000 onwards.
- Funding for Indigenous Education programmes will total $996 million over the five
years to 2004.
- The Government will continue to support the National Asian Languages and Studies in
Australian Schools (NALSAS) Strategy for a further three years at a cost of $90 million.
- The Federal Government will strengthen accountability arrangements for targeted
programme funds so that there is a greater focus on achieving student results.
Administrative arrangements for Commonwealth programmes, including the Literacy and
Numeracy Programme, will be simplified and streamlined.
Universities
- As promised at the last election, Higher Education Research Infrastructure funding will
receive a $93.3 million increase above the previous forward estimates bringing funding to
a total of $288 million over three years.
- Consistent with our commitment made at the last election, Strategic Partnerships with
Industry Research and Training (SPIRT) grants will be allocated $59.8 million extra
funding to forge stronger links between industry and universities bringing total funding
to $162 million over three years.
- To help Australia position itself to take full advantage of the information and
biotechnology revolution, the Government has fulfilled its election commitment to provide
new funding of $25 million for science lectureships.
- Aware of the crucial need for rural doctors, the Government has provided an extra 450
new student places and will provide 60 medical places at Queensland’s James Cook
University, at a cost of over $28 million, as promised at the last election.
Vocational Education and Training
"The budget provides greater opportunities, choice and assistance to the 70 per
cent who do not go from school to university, and to those Australians wanting to prepare
for the workforce and a life of learning and employment opportunities," said Dr Kemp.
The Budget will provide $1.6 billion for vocational education and training, including:
- $354 million in 1999-2000 for New Apprenticeships with a total commitment of $1.5
billion over 4 years. New Apprenticeships now stand at an all time high with 206,400 New
Apprentices in Australia as at December 1998.
- As promised at the last election, an extra $51.4 million is being provided under the
Rural and Regional New Apprenticeships Programme from 1 January 1999 to significantly
boost opportunities for employment in emerging industries such as IT, retail and
hospitality for an estimated 30,000 New Apprentices in rural Australia.
- Provide funding of $918 million for 1999, to the Australian National Training Authority
(ANTA) to support user choice and higher standards in TAFE and the private training
sector. In addition ANTA will receive $172.6 million over four years for National
Programmes.
- Maintain funding of about $13 million per annum for the continuation of the Jobs
Pathways Programme, to help young people move successfully from school to work.
- Provide funding of $400,000 to the Developing an Enterprising Culture – Women in
Small Business programme. The funding will allow the development of training materials
to assist women to better participate in the small business sector, the engine room of the
Australian economy.
Youth
- $60 million will be provided over the next four years to continue the Job Placement,
Education and Training Programme (JPET), which helps young people at risk to overcome the
barriers they face in maintaining stable accommodation, finding work, accessing training,
or re-entering the education system. This represents a strengthened commitment to
assisting the most disadvantaged youth in the community. The funding will allow over
40,000 young people to be assisted over that period.
- Funding for the successful Green Corps programme will continue at almost $90 million
over the next four years confirming at least an additional 6,800 places.
- As promised at the last election, new funding of $1 million over two years for the Young
Offenders Programme, to extend nationally the Government’s current work to improve
the integration of young offenders into community life through education, training and
employment.
"This budget underlines the Government’s commitment to building a better
equipped, more skilled and internationally competitive Australia," said Dr Kemp.
"The Coalition’s education policies are for every Australian, recognising the
different educational backgrounds, needs and choices of the Australian people.
"Choice is a driver of quality and innovation and this education budget supports
and encourages choice by increasing opportunities for families through its school funding
initiatives, support for user choice in training, and strengthen research opportunities in
universities. This budget goes even further than the Coalition’s election commitments
and truly prepares Australia for the next millennium."
Media contact: Samantha Herron 0412 639 754 or 02 6277 7460
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