Dear Federation members

By Maree O'Halloran and Barry Johnson

On behalf of the Federation we would like to thank members for their involvement in the public education campaign particularly in the lead up to the recent federal election.

The lobbying, leafleting, letters to the editor and paid advertising undertaken by members was instrumental in making the education debate a major one during the election campaign.

The re-election of the Howard Government with a strengthened position obviously means continued campaigning about their industrial and educational policies that may damage public education. Nevertheless, it is important to note the following useful outcomes from the recent campaign:

• More public awareness about the inadequate funding of our public schools and TAFE Colleges
• Both major parties offered more funding to public education during the election campaign. The Coalition's announcement of an extra $1 billion dollars over four years for schools capital works projects was split 70/30 in favour of public education. This split is at odds with the Coalition's other inequitable funding policies and shows that public education issues did gain traction during the election.
• The major parties took significantly different positions about education policy and funding to the electorate.

Federation has long campaigned in support of public education at both state and federal elections (and between elections). The coincidence in 2007 of a state and federal election in the same year gives us the opportunity to establish a positive platform for public education over the next few years. That platform would include the respective responsibilities of each level of government.

Federation will be commissioning an independent survey of members about our public education campaign and ideas for the future. We ask you to be involved if you are selected to be part of either that survey or focus group research.

Yours sincerely

Maree O'Halloran, President and Barry Johnson, General Secretary

For further information

November 2004 contents