Albanese announces pledge to fully fund every public school in Australia

Every public school in Australia will be fully funded by the federal government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced today.

The PM said the introduction of $2.8 billion in additional funding for Queensland public schools over the next decade, supporting some 560,000 students, will bring the state into line with the rest of the country.

The news comes less than 48 hours before the release of the federal budget.

“Every student, regardless of which school they go to, will receive this funding,” Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra.

“Education opens the doors of opportunity and today, we are widening them.”

He said that the funding contributes to an estimated $16.5 billion in additional Commonwealth funding for public schools across Australia in 2025 and 2026.

This is the biggest new investment into public schools by any Australian government, with Albanese and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli calling it “historic”.

“Queensland is the last state to agree with the national schools funding agreement,” Albanese said.

He and Crisafulli confirmed the money would go towards addressing specific challenges faced by Queensland public schools and implementing “real and practised” educational reforms.

“This isn’t a blank cheque,” the prime minister said.

“This is an investment in our young Australians. I can’t think of anything that is more worthwhile.”

Crisafulli said that the ten-year investment will benefit students across the state, from students in remote and regional schools, to children who haven’t even been born yet.

It will also help the state achieve better educational outcomes, he said.

”We are determined to make sure that the education standards for our kids continue on an upward trajectory,” he said.

Albanese said the funding will also ensure that students will not be allowed to “fall behind” at school, rather they will be offered the educational support they need.

“Every child will have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. That is what aspiration is about, that is what everyone wants for their young sons and daughters,” he said.

Albanese’s official X account, @albomp, also shared a post as the conference took place which read: “NEWS: We’ll fully fund every school in Australia.”

Albanese also said that he was told by his press office that some people assumed his press conference this morning would be to call the 2025 Federal Election.

He confirmed that the election will be held in May, but shared no new details.