I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that in a worsening cost-of-living crisis, every out-of-pocket expense is feeling harder to justify. So when the start of the school year rolls around and you’re lumped with ‘voluntary school contributions’ and a book list that includes boxes of tissues, whiteboard markers and reams of paper, a similar thought crosses many of our minds: isn’t public education supposed to be free?

After years of volunteering in my kids' schools P&C it’s become abundantly clear what a vital role P&Cs play in school funding. But organising funding for essential resources like school readers,  air conditioning for classrooms, and even playground equipment or buildings, should not be the responsibility of school parents.

Queensland public schools are some of the most underfunded in the country, and schools in the Greenslopes electorate were underfunded by $24.3 million in 2022. That’s $2,939 per student, each year!

The state Labor government could choose to fully fund our public schools tomorrow, instead they refuse to make big mining corporations pay their fair share and instead penalise teachers, parents and carers, and wreck the futures of millions of students.

Join me, Penny Allman Payne (Greens Senator for QLD) and Amy MacMahon (Greens MP for South Brisbane) for a discussion on how we secure fully funded public schools and secure a future our kids deserve. There'll be plenty of time for questions at the end and we'll host a free community dinner in CB Mott Park from 5pm. Feel free to stick around for a chat and a free meal!