The Australian Democrats are calling for the Howard Government to allocate an extra $2 billion each year for Government schools.Democrats schools spokeswoman, Lyn Allison, says the Prime Minister must invest heavily in public education to reverse the decline in government school enrolments.
Senator Allison says John Howard has been ducking the issue with rhetoric about joint Federal and State Government responsibility.
She says the Federal Government could use money that is budgeted for tax cuts to improve the public education system.
"Polls are showing that people want to see services in health and education better funded," she said.
"They're less interested in tax cuts than they are in seeing good services.
"I believe that, that the funding, particularly for government schools, has fallen well behind community expectations."
By Australian Democrats 9 May 04
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