The Turnbull Government still intends to rip $30 billion from schools despite a new survey showing widespread teacher shortages and under-resourcing, and that funding cuts will hit reading, writing, and maths programs hard.

Around half of all Principals report teacher shortages, problems with filling teacher vacancies, and that their schools are under-resourced, according to survey results released by the Australian Education Union.

And 84 per cent of Principals said students would miss out on extra help with reading, writing, and maths if the Government proceeded with its cuts to schools.

Sixty-two per cent of Principals said students with disability or learning difficulties would miss out too.

I have visited every school in the Blair electorate; Principals, teachers and parents have told me they are worried about the Government’s cuts to schools.

The former Labor Government committed billions of dollars extra to help improve schools.  After just three years of extra funding, 90 per cent of Principals agree it’s making a significant difference.  The money has been spent on more teachers, more one-on-one attention for kids, and more help with the basics like reading, writing, and maths.

Which is why it’s impossible to understand why, starting next year, the Liberals are cutting the funding – a total of $30 billion less for schools over a decade.

The Liberals’ cuts will hurt every schoolkid.  On average the Liberals are cutting $3 million from every school in Australia.

Why should our kids’ schools miss out on $30 billion, while the Liberals give big business and the banks a $50 billion tax cut?  It’s just wrong.

In contrast, Labor will properly fund all our schools based on need, so every child, in every school, gets a great education.