Other states rebuff Albanese government’s deal with WA to boost public school funding

In return for increased federal funding, WA will implement teacher quality and student wellbeing reforms, drawing on recommendations of an independent education panel. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

A “landmark” deal between the Albanese government and Western Australia to co-fund public school improvements has been rejected by all other states.

The federal education minister, Jason Clare, on Wednesday announced the five-year deal in which the commonwealth and WA will jointly pay to lift the state’s public schools to the schooling resource standard (SRS) by 2026 in return for the state implementing teacher quality and student wellbeing reforms.