[Greens-Media] $5.5 billion needed each year for education to reach OECD top ten

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

$5.5 billion needed each year for education to reach OECD top ten

19.09.07

Greens Education Spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle has called on the
government to commit to a massive public investment in education.

"The OECD figures released overnight show another year of decline in
public expenditure on education," Senator Kerry Nettle said.

"The Greens are calling for an annual $5.5 billion boost in public
investment in all levels of education to bring us up into the top ten
nations in the OECD for public investment in education.

In 1995 public expenditure was at 64.8% of total education spending
which dropped to 48% by 2003 and the latest report which shows figures
up to 2004 have recorded another drop to 47.2%

"The education funding is now increasingly being provided by students as
the government moves Australia further towards a fully privatised user
pays model of education.

"Australia joins the USA and Chile in the top three of countries with
the highest proportion of private funding of education.

"Countries like Sweden, Demark, Ireland and Norway are all spending more
public money on higher education and all out perform Australia in terms
of GDP per capita.

"The Greens call on the other parties to invest in the competitiveness
and effectiveness of our education system and our economy."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146