In a final victory for the outgoing PM and Education Minister, the Australian Education Bill has passed the Senate.

The sweeping educational reforms have been welcomed by many and rejected by some; a few Coalition states have yet to lodge their full support. The new ‘National Plan for School Improvement’ applies to all government schools in participating states, and non-government schools in all states. It promises needs-based school funding, extra resources to bring schools up to the Schooling Resource Standard and “school improvement reforms”.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Education Minister Peter Garrett will have to watch their hard work pay off from the sidelines, after Ms Gillard handed in her commission and Mr Garrett followed soon after.

New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT have already signed up to the $15 billion spend, the Government is being optimistic about its efficacy at this early stage, saying “over 60 per cent of students in almost 60 per cent of schools across the country will now benefit from their share of the $15 billion on offer to all states and territories if they sign up to a fairer school funding model and school improvement reforms”.

A full text of the bill and a chart of its introduction into law are available from the Parliamentary website.