Indigenous Schooling

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:30): I was interested to note the federal government's announcement yesterday in NAIDOC Week of a $22 million grant for what is titled a 'direct instruction' program. I understand this follows the Cape York model. This is described as a direct method of teaching using lectures and demonstrations to improve literacy outcomes for remote Indigenous children. While I am a great supporter of literacy and numeracy programs, I am reminded of the findings and strategy that were laid out in the colloquially known Gonski funding agreement. I am told that the federal government's dismissal of the Gonski report has meant a funding cut of $534 million for Indigenous community health and education programs.

In investigating this further, Dr Stewart Riddle from Literacies Education of the University of Southern Queensland says that the OECD's latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results show that there is about a 2½ year gap between non-Indigenous and Indigenous literacy rates in Australia. He says there is also a persistent gap in the NAPLAN results.

I thought I would follow this further to find out what the possible cuts might be to South Australia's remote schools. I was provided with the following details. I am also advised that this information needs to be qualified as it is the best estimate that could be given to me at the time and there are a number of variables, so this is a fluid situation but certainly one of concern, and obviously fluid students numbers are a factor in that.

I am told that at the Carlton School at Port Augusta, which is in the electorate of Stuart, there will be an estimated $76,000 cut. In the Kaurna Plains School, which is in Elizabeth in the electorate of Little Para, there could be an $88,000 cut. In the Koonibba Aboriginal School, which is in the electorate of Flinders, there is an estimated $46,000 cut. At Marree Aboriginal School, which is in the electorate of Stuart, it is estimated be a $24,000 cut.

At the Point Pearce Aboriginal School, which is in the electorate of Goyder, it is estimated to be a $15,000 cut. There is also Yalata Anangu School, which is in the electorate of Flinders again, with a $74,000 cut. We also have the Raukkan Aboriginal School in the electorate of MacKillop with an estimated $23,000 cut. All of these areas in addition to a total cut to Indigenous education, as I said, of $534 million is really concerning.

In doing a little bit of research, I noticed a pre-federal election article by Patricia Karvelas from The Australian, who regularly writes on education, in which she identified that when the Gonski funding agreement was laid out, the funding if realised would support 31,900 Indigenous students, 3,650 schools and 69 per cent of government schools, 20 per cent of Catholic schools and 11 per cent of Independent schools with extra eligible money for education programs.

As I said, the state information needs to be qualified, but it is really concerning to me that in NAIDOC Week we are not only celebrating NAIDOC Week but we are also acknowledging the fact that there are going to be huge cuts. I do not know what other people think but literacy and numeracy and having effective programs that are supported by people in the education sector are of absolute importance.