2026-05-28
NSW students are being educated in ACT-funded schools — and the ACT Labor Government has never sent a bill. The Greens are calling on the ACT Government to fix this by invoicing NSW for every student they send to ACT funded-schools and CIT, starting from School Term 3 (21 July).
The independent Eslake report lays bare a glaring inconsistency: in contrast to health services, the NSW Government makes no contribution to the cost of ACT-funded education for their residents in the Territory.
“When I asked the Labor Government in hearings why the ACT does not get a contribution for NSW students in our schools and CIT, the Government’s response was that they never asked,” said ACT Greens Leader Jo Clay.
“That’s not good enough. In a cost-of-living and fuel crisis, Canberrans are already carrying the burden of the $100 health levy imposed by this Government last year. The Greens opposed the $250 health levy last year and negotiated it down to $100. We oppose that remaining $100 and we’ve made it clear to Government: find the funds another way.
Around 1,000 students from NSW are educated in ACT public schools every day. The ACT Government spent $22,265 per public school student in 2023-24, and that’s before factoring in subsidies to private schools.
“When you add it all up, the ACT is spending around $23.4 million educating students from across the border. That’s $23.4 million that cannot be invested in services for Canberrans,” said Ms Clay.
“The ACT Government must invoice NSW on a cost recovery basis, including capital costs and depreciation, for every NSW student attending an ACT-funded educational institution.
“There is no good reason to keep subsidising another state’s responsibilities while Canberrans struggle with rising costs.
“Canberrans deserve a government that fights for fair funding, not one that leaves money on the table.”