This scorecard* evaluates the school education policies and announcements of the three major parties and the ‘Teal’ Independents against Independent Schools Australia’s (ISA) key policy priorities.
*as of February 2025 (table to be updated once we receive replies from each major party).
The table below represents current publicly available positions and will be updated following responses from each campaign to ISA’s policy asks.
To help inform our parents about the positions of Teal Independents we have written to the following MPs Allegra Spender, Dr. Sophie Scamps, Dr Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Senator David Pocock, Zoe Daniel. Their responses will be collated once received.
Keep school fees affordable and preserve families’ ability to choose the best education for their child, by committing to stable, predictable federal funding for Independent schools.
Awaiting response.
“A Dutton Coalition Government will: Match dollar-for-dollar agreements already announced by the Federal Government for schools funding. Back faith-based education – not attack it – because we believe choosing a school which aligns to one’s faith or values is the right of every Australian family.”
https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan
Awaiting response.
“Labor believes parents have a right to choose a non-government school. Nongovernment schools should be supported by public funding that reflects need. Labor will work with states and territories to implement a properly funded national needs-based and sector-blind school funding model, to ensure that…all schools are on a path to fair and full funding that meets the needs of all students.”
Awaiting response.
“Unlike Labor and the Liberals, who have failed to address the growing inequity in education, the Greens are committed to fully funding public schools and ending wasteful subsidies for the wealthiest private institutions.”
https://greens.org.au/portfolios/primary-secondary-schooling
Awaiting responses.
“We also need…to support our terrific independent schools. First, that means maintaining funding for independent schools in line with their SRS entitlement.”
“Every parent should have the right to choose the school they believe is best for their child”
Allegra Spender, Member for Wentworth, 11 February 2025
Promote cross-sector collaboration and public understanding of the education system, avoiding divisive narratives that pit school sectors against one another.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting response.
“At what point does the Government say enough is enough, and stops pouring public money into these rich, high-fee, private schools?”
Senator Allman-Payne, Greens Primary and Secondary Education Portfolio, post on X, 4 September 2024
Awaiting responses.
Provide fair and stable funding for students with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and those in regional, rural, and remote schools.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting response.
“Labor will work with states and territories to implement a properly funded national needs-based and sector-blind school funding model, to ensure that… disadvantaged schools get the biggest funding increases in the shortest time, tied to practical reforms.”
Awaiting response.
Awaiting responses.
Commit $50 million over four years to a cross-sector innovation fund to share and scale educational advancements across all school sectors.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting responses.
Increase funding for the Capital Grants Program and regional school loadings to support the growing demand for Independent schools, particularly in fast-growing or underserved areas.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting response.
Awaiting response.
“Elite private schools use millions in federal funding to build extravagant facilities like swimming pools and castles, while public schools are left with crumbling classrooms and ageing infrastructure.”
https://greens.org.au/portfolios/primary-secondary-schooling
Awaiting responses.
How the politicians have replied
Read the full response letters from politicians to our five key policy priorities.
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