Federal Education Minister Gillard claims the debate about resourcing is over. She echoes political opponents who haven’t given a damn about educational equity since the Menzies era. The debate, according to Rudd and Gillard, is now about values and tough love — which means tough times for many government schools.

Kevin Rudd fought the election by promising “fresh leadership” that would make our lives better without involving unpopular change. Indeed, he promised to retain vast swathes of John Howard’s policies. In short, he promised change without change. The public’s slowly growing disillusionment with the Rudd Government represents its dawning realisation that change without change isn’t possible.

As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his deputy Julia Gillard began the hard sell of tough new measures to improve school standards, the trade unions continued to flex their muscles behind the scenes over a number of policy measures.

Opposition education spokesman Tony Smith has labelled the Prime Minister’s plans as copycat measures and says Mr Rudd has not yet delivered his promise of a computer for every senior secondary student. The Australian Education Union also says Mr Rudd’s proposals are not new and are merely a diversion.

Under the Victorian Government’s plans, TAFE students will be able to take out an income-contingent loan — similar to HECS in universities — to pay for their courses. The move is expected to get the backing of the Rudd Government, and is designed to soften the blow of increased fees.