By: Elizabeth Lee MLA
Canberra Liberals Shadow Minister for Education, Elizabeth Lee MLA, will move a motion calling on the Minister for Education to take responsibility for the mismanagement of the 2027 school budget process, which has left principals, teachers, parents and students facing uncertainty and distress.
Data obtained by The Canberra Times shows at least 58 ACT government schools face budget cuts in 2027 compared with 2026, including 37 schools facing reductions of more than five per cent. Some schools have already been forced to sack staff, including Learning Support Assistants, and are considering cuts to programs and services.*
“School principals were blindsided with indicative budgets showing significant cuts, running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in some cases millions, yet the Minister continues to deny that cuts are occurring,” Ms Lee said.
“Parents, teachers and students deserve honesty. Instead, they have been left dealing with confusion, anxiety and uncertainty while principals are expected to explain decisions they did not make.”
The motion notes that the Education Directorate has acknowledged risks including increased stress and anxiety for principals, and the potential for reduced student supports to escalate behaviour and occupational violence. Some of the ACT’s most disadvantaged schools appear to be facing the largest cuts, despite government claims that resources are directed toward equity and need.
“At a time when schools are already dealing with workforce shortages, increasing student complexities and declining outcomes, the government should be backing schools, not pulling the rug out from underneath them,” Ms Lee said.
The motion calls on the Minister to accept responsibility, establish clear budget protocols developed with principals and stakeholders to ensure transparency and genuine involvement, and report on work on the Student Resource Allocation model that should have been completed before these cuts were imposed.
“This is a sensible and constructive proposal. School communities should never again be blindsided by a process that lacks transparency and consultation,” Ms Lee said. “The government has an opportunity to acknowledge the mistakes and work collaboratively to restore confidence.”
The Motion will be debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
*Source: Sarah Lansdown, “Data reveals 58 ACT public schools facing funding cuts”, The Canberra Times, 23 September 2026.