The Australian Greens have highlighted several major concerns with the government’s proposed schools funding model in a Senate inquiry report that was tabled in the Parliament today.

“After weeks of evidence, it’s clear that we can’t support the legislation in its current form,” the Greens’ education spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“The Greens are committed to the genuine Gonski of fair, needs-based schools funding that both Labor and the Liberals have so far failed to put on the table.

The Senate has supported an Australian Greens’ motion calling on the Federal Government to use Whyalla steel in local infrastructure projects announced in this year’s budget.

“This motion sends a message to the steelworkers in Whyalla doing it tough that Canberra is watching and the Greens are determined to do what we can to help get them back on their feet,” Greens trade spokesperson, Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens are calling on the SA Government to stand with coastal communities, tourism and fishery industries in protecting the Great Australian Bight marine park from high-risk oil drilling by Statoil.

The Australian Greens have reaffirmed their commitment to Australian public schools during today’s Senate inquiry hearing into the government’s proposed schools funding plan.

"We stand with public schools and their principals who have told the Senate today that the current law is not good enough, but that it's also not fair to make kids in underfunded schools wait ten years to catch up to their peers in wealthier schools,” the Greens’ education spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens will fight against the Government’s cruel higher education reform package, which will be introduced in the House of Representatives today.

“This Bill cuts willy-nilly from the University sector with zero regard for how it will affect staff, students and learning. The Greens will continue to fight against this Government’s archaic policy of forcing universities to do more with less every year,” Greens education spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens welcome the Federal Government reviewing local content requirements for children’s television on traditional commercial broadcasters and new streaming services.

“This review must provide practical measures to strengthen Australian children television content for broadcasters and streaming services,” Greens arts and youth spokesperson Senator Hanson-Young said.

“If the big commercial broadcasters have their way, local content quotas would be no more and our children would go without. This simply can’t be allowed to happen.

The Australian Greens welcome the Federal Government reviewing local content requirements for children’s television on traditional commercial broadcasters and new streaming services.

“This review must provide practical measures to strengthen Australian children television content for broadcasters and streaming services,” Greens arts and youth spokesperson Senator Hanson-Young said.

“If the big commercial broadcasters have their way, local content quotas would be no more and our children would go without. This simply can’t be allowed to happen.

The Australian Greens have called on the Government to implement local employment targets to ensure South Australians are prioritised for the thousands of jobs expected to be created in ship building from 2021.

“We’re being told it’s going to rain jobs in South Australia in 2021, but we’re in a drought at the moment. With a project that’s offering thousands of jobs, in a state where we have almost 60,000 people out of work, it is important that we look to supporting locals winning these jobs first and foremost,” Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens stand in solidarity with students protesting around the country today against the government's harsh university cuts.

"This government's attacks on students will not go unnoticed and will not go unchallenged," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The Greens stand in solidarity with students protesting against these cruel and unnecessary cuts.

Statement from Australian Greens education spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young:

I would like to clarify the Greens position on the government's schools funding bill.

The Greens have not yet made a decision on the Government’s schools legislation. 
The Australian Greens Party Room is carefully considering this matter and will be consulting widely on this in coming weeks. Parents and teachers can rest assured that we are rock solid in our support for public schools and fair, needs-based funding.