IEUA Speaks – Federal budget restores education as a core national priority
25 March 25
Tonight’s federal budget delivered historic reforms to our nation’s education system.
The budget is the culmination of three years of federal government repairs to our schooling and early childhood education sectors. Combined with much needed cost of living relief for IEU members and their families, the government’s commitments will help build and maintain a sustainable, high-quality education workforce.
While complex challenges remain in our schools, kindergartens and preschools, the government has delivered long-overdue reforms that will tonight be celebrated across the sector.
100% funding in all public schools: The work of IEU members and schools in the non-government sector must be complemented by a world class public education system accessible to all children in all communities. The IEU congratulates the government and our AEU colleagues in the public sector who have now secured historic 100% funding for every public school.
Rebuilding quality early childhood education and care (ECEC): ECEC has seen an unprecedented rate of reforms in recent years. Tonight’s budget continues efforts to rebuild the sector, from new funding for the three-day ECEC guarantee, to federal support for ECEC wage outcomes. IEU members, and the families attending our ECEC services, strongly welcome the $1billion plan to build more centres focused on the not-for-profit community sector.
Cost-of-living and income tax cuts: The budget provides new cost-of-living support and tax cuts for IEU members and their families. Following the first round of tax cuts last year, this will see combined tax cuts of around $50 a week for a worker on average wages, or $2,548 a year. Tax cuts combined with changes to workplace laws that have delivered much higher wage outcomes, this will make a big difference to household budgets.
Affordable housing for essential education workers: A growing number of IEU members are locked out of the housing market due to soaring property prices where they work or teach. The government’s decision to increase the income threshold to allow more workers to access the Help to Buy scheme will include education workers earning less than $100,000, or with combined incomes below $160,000. In many areas this will open up additional housing support to thousands of early and mid-career teachers, ECEC professionals and school support staff.
Supporting our next generation of teachers: The budget will give effect to the previously announced 20 percent cut to HECS-HELP debts for early career teachers. Over $5,500 will be cut from the average graduate university debt of $27,600. Combined with the capping of indexed increases to HECS debts last year, new teachers will have access to much needed financial relief as they begin their new career in the classroom.
IEU – represents 75,000 teachers, principals and support staff in faith based, community & independent schools, pre-schools, kindergartens and early childhood education centres and post-secondary centres across Australia.
