Queensland state Labor is the only government in Queensland responsible for hiring or firing teachers. If students are going to miss out, which they should not, it will be because of decisions made by local Education Minister Kate Jones and the Palaszczuk Labor Government. It is an utter lie to suggest that the Turnbull…
In May 2015 my department initiated a formal review into six school authorities affiliated with the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) following ongoing concerns about their independence, financial management and governance arrangements. As a result of this review, on 13 November 2015, my department issued a Notice of proposed decision to each of the…
Labor have followed up on yesterday’s lies about school funding, again spouting mistruths about the reality of schools funding arrangements across Australia. “…things like the national curriculum, things like the national approach to teacher quality, things like the national approach to leadership accreditation, to a whole range of initiatives, would be put in dire…
Bill Shorten, Chris Bowen and Kate Ellis have today demonstrated that Labor either don't have the faintest idea of how our school education system is structured in Australia or that they are hell-bent on telling lies all the way to the election. “Malcolm Turnbull has today said that he will abandon school education…
The Turnbull Government has named the group of experts who will map out Australia’s research priorities over the coming decade. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the new Expert Working Group would help set the future direction of national research infrastructure after the Turnbull Government gave the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy…
A new report out today has confirmed that despite ever-increasing record levels of funding, the learning gaps of Australian students from different backgrounds continue to grow while our international rankings slip. Australia’s education spending is at record levels that the OECD acknowledges as above the average yet the Grattan Institute’s Widening Gaps report shows…
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Turnbull Government is pushing its child care reforms as quickly as possible but that Labor and the Greens are stinging families and taxpayers with delaying tactics. Minister Birmingham said the Turnbull Government has consistently said it wants to implement sweeping child care reforms but that…
A record number of parents and families are taking advantage of early education and child care programmes according to a new report. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the data from the ABS’ Preschool Education, Australia, 2015 publication showed the Government’s Universal Access Agreement has encouraged an additional 16,088 children into early childhood…
Every student has a right to feel safe at school. Tolerance should be taught in our schools and homophobia should be no more accepted than racism. Students grappling with personal issues, including questions of sexual identity, deserve to be supported and deserve to be able to access the best information, advice and support. Students should…
Two teachers from Victoria and WA have been recognised in a prestigious competition this morning for their outstanding work and contributions to teaching in Australia. Perth primary school teacher Richard Johnson was among the top 10 finalists for the $1 million Global Teacher Prize while Christian Williams from Ashburton in Victoria also made it into…