THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY
SENATOR CAROL BROWN
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND CARERS
SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SCHOOLS
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
LABOR’S $300 MILLION BOOST FOR STUDENTS WITH A DISABILITY
A Shorten Labor Government will invest an extra $300 million to ensure students with disability get the support they need at school.
The numbers of students assessed as eligible for disability funding in Australia has doubled from about 220,000 to around 450,000.
But over the same period under the Liberals, funding has only increased by about seven per cent.
That means many students with disability are missing out on the help they need. It’s completely unacceptable.
Labor’s investment is a significant contribution towards making sure that students with disability can reach their full potential – in every school and school system.
Our commitment is in addition to the disability loading included as part of needs based school funding. It will be allocated on a per student basis consistent with the current disability loading.
The extra funding will deliver individualised learning for students with disability by paying for more teachers, teacher aides, teacher training, updated technology, or upgrades to school facilities to improve access.
We believe that every child can learn and progress, and that every child should be safe, nurtured and challenged wherever they go to school.
Schools must be accountable for how the extra investment is improving education for students with disability.
Labor wants every school, every classroom, in every system to be inclusive.
Today’s announcement comes on top of Labor’s record investment in public schools. Public schools teach around three-quarters of students with disability.
In addition to extra school funding, almost two years ago Labor committed to a royal commission into the violence, abuse and neglect perpetrated against people with disability, including in education.
WEDNESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2019