HALL SUPPORTS EDUCATION UNION CALL FOR FUNDS

Gippsland Province MP PETER HALL has welcomed Mary Bluett's call for more funding for state schools throughout the Gippsland region.

Mary Bluett, the Australian Education Union Victorian branch president, was in Gippsland recently, highlighting the shortfall in funding to Government schools.

"As everybody knows, State Governments are responsible for funding Government schools throughout Australia and in Victoria's case, there is a $650 per student shortfall in funding compared to the national average," Mr Hall said.

"This makes Victorian schools the lowest funded by any State Government in Australia.

"It's important that people understand that the Bracks Government continually claims that education is its number one priority. But what we find is when the spin stops, and we look at their actions, they are short-changing students, teachers and parents at every level of schooling in Victoria.

"Whilst it was refreshing to hear Mary Bluett take on all governments, in relation to school funding arrangements, we must also understand that the State Government is millions of dollars behind the national average in all of our non-government schools as well.

"The State Government also refuses to fund integration aides in non-government schools which is a cold-hearted discrimination against families wishing to send children with disabilities to the same schools as their older brothers or sisters.

"It's time the Bracks Government came clean and increased its funding to all schools, before all Victorians wake up to their deceptive educational spin."

Mr Hall is the Nationals spokesman for Education.

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066