Birmingham praised for ‘staring down’ hostile policy critics

One of Australia’s top education policy think tanks, the Grattan Institute, has called federal reforms to needs-based school funding “a victory for children over politics”.

The Melbourne-based institute has also praised education minister Simon Birmingham (above, right) for negotiating the $23.8-billion package and standing firm against critics of the policy changes in his own party room.

The Gonski 2.0 reforms make major changes to school funding arrangements introduced by the Gillard government in 2013.