In the run-up to the NSW election in december 2017, both parties have clashed over the issue of schools funding, with each offering an alternative view of Kristina Keneally's record in government. Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham claimed Labor cut $318 million from New South Wales schools. But Ms Keneally claimed education funding increased in every key area under her government. Ms Keneally is wide of the mark but there is more to the story than Senator Birmingham claims. Applying the inflation figure used in budget papers, NSW Government funding for education as a whole decreased by 2.5 per cent in real terms in 2010-11. Senator Birmingham and Ms Keneally both pointed to data from the Productivity Commission, which publishes schools funding figures in nominal and real terms, using an inflation index for government finances. While the nominal figures show a 2.3 per cent increase in state government funding for schools in 2010-11, in real terms this was a decrease of 2.8 per cent, or $318 million. However, Senator Birmingham's claim that this amounted to "ripping money out of schools" is unjustified. The real decrease in NSW schools funding in Ms Keneally's sole budget year as premier came after a larger than usual increase in real terms in 2009-10. Using data for different time periods, or using a different measure for inflation, would produce a different result. Experts said school students in NSW at the time benefitted from higher federal funding in real terms.
Verdict: Wide of the mark, more to the story