It is with a great sense of satisfaction that I rise to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025, specifically those parts of the bill which impact the education responsibilities of the Commonwealth government. I feel great satisfaction to talk about the education portions of the bill because this government, the Albanese government, has a proven track record of expanding educational opportunities for all Australians. It has always been the Labor way. I acknowledge my friend the education minister, the member for Blaxland, for his dedication and delivery in this very important portfolio space.

One of the most important things that we needed to do when we returned to government back in 2022 was take a serious look at the funding for public schools across Australia. We had a situation where every non-government school in Australia was fully funded but government schools were not. This obviously created a significant equity gap for children across Australia, limiting the education outcomes for millions of children. I've heard this firsthand from teachers and school leaders, as well as how important meeting this gap was, and I know that the minister received similar feedback right across the country. We will address this gap through the Better and Fairer Schools agreements. These agreements will increase the Commonwealth government's contribution to the schooling resource standard. These agreements with the states and territories constitute the biggest new investments for public schools by any Australian government ever. Over 10 years, the government will commit an additional $16.5 billion in funding to our public schools. This will put every public school across the country on the pathway to receiving full funding.

Make no mistake; this is going to be transformative for the lives of children across the nation. It will open new doors and create new opportunities for their futures. That's what this government is all about, and I'm very proud of this important change. Alongside this funding will come new educational reforms that the government has secured for students, important changes which will secure the educational outcomes that the additional funding promises. This includes year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks. The mandatory inclusion of phonics and early years numeracy checks is an important way of looking after the basics, making sure that our kids are off on the right path on their educational journey.

We're also including as part of the funding support more support for the attraction and retention of teachers. It is no secret that we have a teacher crisis right across Australia. Not enough people want to become teachers, and not enough teachers want to remain in the profession. This is felt across the full spectrum of schools but felt acutely within government schools. There are many forces which contribute to this crisis, but only government can address it. I am pleased that our government will include measures to address this crisis within our broader support for public schools.

Alongside these important changes, we will also be increasing the support that children receive along the journey through supporting small group tutoring, more mental health supports and greater individualised support for students. Our Better and Fairer Schools Agreement is an important step to bring greater equality of opportunity to all Australians. Combined with our investments in TAFE and the university sector, including in regional hubs—there will be one in my electorate, on Norfolk Island—our investments in early education are great examples of what this government is all about, providing opportunities for all at whatever stage of their education journey they might be at.