Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch has slammed the Minns Labor Government for their education funding fail in this year’s State Budget, with only $1.4 million allocated to three schools across the Central Coast for school upgrades.
On top of this funding flop for local schools, funding for school maintenance and small upgrades has been cut across the state by $220 million, compared to funding provided by the former Liberal-National Government in the 2022-23 Budget.
“Our local Labor MPs should hang their heads in shame for this pittance of funding allocated for public school upgrades on the Coast, with only three schools out of seventy-one allocated funding for upgrades.”
“For comparison, in this year’s Budget, $1.5 million has been allocated for a new cabinet system in the Premier’s Department, compared to the $1.4 million allocated to our schools, split between Killarney Vale, Central Mangrove and Umina Beach Public Schools.”
“We have also seen a real cut in terms of funding for small upgrades and maintenance at our public schools, with the Minns Government allocating $1.08 billion for maintenance and minor capital works, compared to the former Liberal-National Government’s $1.3 billion for the same types of works, a $220 million cut.”
Mr Crouch said the $220 million cut will have long lasting consequences for Central Coast schools and more details was required on the government’s $1.08 billion allocation of funding.
“The Minister has announced this funding, but there is no detail as to which schools will receive the funding and how much they will receive, and if the recent $1.4 million announcement is anything to go by, you can expect our public schools won’t get their fair share from this miserable Minns Government.”