Queensland’s state schools are set to receive the biggest funding boost in their history, following the signing of a landmark agreement between the Albanese and Crisafulli governments.
The deal ensures that all public and state schools in Queensland will be on a path to full and fair funding, marking a key milestone in the nationwide Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking about the agreement, emphasised the long-term benefits for Australia’s education system:
“Building Australia’s future means investing in the next generation. Every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn and participate in school. Education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia.”
Under the Heads of Agreement signed today, the Commonwealth will increase its contribution to Queensland state schools by 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), raising its share from 20 per cent to 25 per cent by 2034. This will inject an estimated $2.8 billion in additional funding over the next decade, paving the way for significant educational reforms.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed pride in securing the deal, calling it a win for the state’s children. “We’re proud to have secured the biggest funding boost ever delivered to Queensland state schools, because that’s what our children deserve.”
“This funding will raise the bar in classrooms across Queensland, giving our students a world-class education and the support needed to succeed.”
The funding agreement comes with a clear stipulation: it is tied to meaningful reforms aimed at improving educational outcomes. These include early years literacy and numeracy checks, evidence-based teaching strategies, and targeted support for struggling students through small-group tutoring and mental health initiatives.
Minister for Education Jason Clare stressed the importance of ensuring that this funding brings tangible results: “This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up, and finish school. It’s not a blank cheque. I want this money to get results.”
“It will help make sure every child gets a great start in life—what every parent wants, and what every Australian child deserves.”
Minister Clare added that the agreement marked a milestone for the entire nation, highlighting the government’s commitment to fixing public school funding: “All Australian public schools will be fully funded. We’ve just reached a $2.8 billion agreement to fix the funding of Queensland public schools. It means that every public school in every state and territory across the country is now on a path to full and fair funding.
“We are the first government to get this done.”
Clare pointed out that while non-government schools are currently funded at the level recommended by David Gonski, public schools have not been. “Public schools aren’t. This agreement fixes that. It is the biggest investment in public education by the Australian Government ever. But it is not a blank cheque. It is tied to reforms that we know work and will work, to help kids in our public schools reach their potential. This is going to change lives.”
Furthermore, the agreement includes ambitious targets to further improve Australia’s education system by 2030. These targets include reducing the number of students in the ‘Needs Additional Support’ category by 10 per cent, increasing high school graduation rates, and boosting student attendance to 91.4 per cent nationally. The agreement also aims to enhance teacher recruitment and retention, with a focus on reducing teacher workload.
Queensland Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek thanked both the federal government and his state counterparts for their collaborative efforts in securing the deal. “These agreements truly signify a fresh start for Queensland state schools,” he said.
“I will work with my department to put this money to best use in every aspect of our education system.”
With all Australian jurisdictions now signed on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, today’s deal marks a transformative moment for Queensland’s education system, ensuring that the next generation of students has the resources and support they need to thrive.
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