More than eight in 10 Australians believe that increasing public school funding should be a priority issue at the next federal election, according to new polling released by the Australian Education Union.

The nationwide YouGov poll of more than 1,200 people showed that respondents believe that public school funding is too low and should be increased, and that public school funding should be a top priority federal election issue.

The AEU released the polling to mark the launch of the Every School. Every Child. campaign, which is targeting political parties to secure public school funding commitments (see story on next page).

Some of the key poll findings were:

• More than eight in 10 people (83 per cent) believe that increasing public school funding should be a priority issue at the next federal election.

• Almost six in 10 voters who currently have children attending a public school (57 per cent) said it should be the top priority issue to increase funding to public schools at the next federal election.

• Over three-quarters (77 per cent) agreed that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that every school in Australia is fully funded to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).

• In response to the $19 billion shortfall in Commonwealth funding for public schools over the next four years, more than half (54 per cent) said that they believe that the federal government’s current share of funding for public schools is currently too low.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said this poll result showed that a majority of Australians believed that every school should be provided the resources it needs to ensure that every child gets the best education, regardless of their background or circumstances.

“This polling makes it clear that the public understands the importance of funding public schools properly,” she said.

“They want public school funding increased, and they want politicians to ensure that every school and every child gets the funding they need to succeed.”