Education cuts haunt Keneally
BENNELONG hopeful Kristina Keneally has slammed the Turnbull Government for cutting education funding, while failing to mention that as NSW premier she oversaw the slashing of $ 318 million from schools in one year alone.
Labor kicked off its campaign against John Alexander yesterday, with its education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek claiming the Government’s funding reforms had cut $ 10 million from the schools of Bennelong.
“If the people of Bennelong want proper funding for their schools and affordable univer- sity, they should vote Labor, they should vote for Kristina Keneally,” Ms Plibersek said.
But Productivity Commission figures show under NSW’s Keneally Labor government, state funding for schools dropped from billion to $ 10.93 billion.
All but $ 3 million of that funding cut in the 2010 state budget came from public schools, the figures show.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham said Ms Keneally could “tell as many lies as she wants but the facts of her lousy government speak for themselves”.
“I’m not surprised she’s calling for more funding for Bennelong schools after she slashed funding to students by up to $ 508 each,” he said.
“Our Gonski funding plan will give each Bennelong school on average an extra $ 4 million.”