The Australian Greens have announced a $10 billion election pledge to make public schools free and provide parents with an annual $800 back-to-school allowance per child. The proposal, aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures on families, has been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).
The plan allocates $2.4 billion to abolish public school fees and $7.6 billion to fund the back-to-school payments over the forward estimates. Families would start receiving a $400 half-year payment in mid-2026, with the full $800 allowance kicking in from 2027.
“In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should be able to afford the basics: a home, food, and world class health and education,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said. “Parents are forking out thousands on ‘voluntary’ fees, uniforms and out-of-pocket costs, but meanwhile one in three big corporations pays no tax.”
Political perspectives
The Greens’ ability to implement the policy depends on forming a minority government, with tight polling suggesting a potential power-sharing deal with Labor. The Greens previously worked with Labor during Julia Gillard’s minority government in 2010, securing dental care for kids under Medicare.
However, both major parties have criticised the proposal. Education minister Jason Clare highlighted the government’s tax cuts, which provide $1,679 in relief for middle-income earners, as more substantial than the Greens’ plan.
“Our tax cuts are providing real cost-of-living relief for families with children going back to school this year,” Clare said. “We are also working with states and territories to get all public schools on a path to full and fair funding.”
Shadow education minister Sarah Henderson described the policy as “economically reckless,” arguing that it would fuel inflation and drive up interest rates.
The PBO projects public school fees will rise to an average of $441 per child annually by mid-2026. While the Greens’ policy aims to offset basic costs such as uniforms and supplies, parents may still face extra expenses for activities like excursions.
Critics, including the federal opposition, warn that increased government spending could worsen inflation. “The Greens’ schools policy is inflationary and economically reckless and says nothing about the importance of investing in the basics like explicit teaching,” Henderson said.
The Greens dispute these claims, blaming global supply chain disruptions, the war in Ukraine, and corporate price gouging for inflation rather than government spending.
Focus on public education
The back-to-school allowance is restricted to public school families, with the Greens defending the decision to exclude private schools. “Private school parents make a decision to send their kids to private school. We think public education is really important,” said Greens senator Penny Allman-Payne.
The Greens estimate the average family with two children in public schools would save around $2,500 a year under the plan. “We hope that this will encourage more families, particularly those who are doing it tough, to send their kids to the local public school,” said Allman-Payne.