Education

Education is a lifelong journey of discovery and growth, best guided by families who understand the choices they must make to help their children thrive. Unfortunately, Australia’s government-run education system stifles innovation, limits choice, and fails to deliver quality outcomes. The Libertarian Party believes Australian families deserve the freedom to
choose education options that align with their values, fostering diverse pathways tailored to each child’s talents and ambitions.

Despite massive increases in education spending over the past 50 years, little has been achieved beyond bloated institutions and bureaucratic inefficiencies. The system prioritises political correctness and ideological agendas over essential learning, leaving students unprepared for real-world challenges.

Excessive regulations shield childcare, schools, and universities from competition, blocking innovative and effective alternatives.

Childcare subsidies continue to grow in cost, yet parents and children see no meaningful improvement. A system driven by choice and competition would deliver higher-quality care, sustainable costs, and better outcomes for families.

Higher education also suffers from poor policy. HECS-type debts burden taxpayers, and billions will be written off due to the impending retirement of people who still have HECS-type debts. Subsidising university education at the expense
of non-university students is unfair. The Libertarian Party believes in personal responsibility and opposes policies that transfer the cost of individual choices to taxpayers. A better approach fosters choice, fairness, and accountability

The Libertarian Party will: 

1. Abolish the Federal Department of Education.
   
   Abolish the federal Department of Education to avoid unnecessary duplication with state-level responsibilities. This
   also means dismantling the national curriculum, centralised testing, and other federal functions. Curriculum decisions should be made as close as possible to the individual student, empowering local communities and educators to tailor learning to real-world needs rather than continuing political battles over who controls the curriculum.
   
   
2. Empower parents to control childcare and education funding.
   
   Allow parents to direct funds allocated for their children’s care and education. If subsidies are provided, government
   funding should be given directly to the parents through a childcare or education voucher. Care providers and educational institutions would then compete for clients or students by offering high-quality care or education
   tailored to the needs of their market.
   
   
3. Encourage new and innovative education models with less red tape. 
   
   Foster a market-driven approach where entrepreneurs can innovate and test new ideas in childcare and education by reducing the red tape associated with establishing new childcare centres, schools, and universities. This will allow these institutions to compete based on price and quality to attract students.
   
   
4. Support home education co-ops and micro-schools.
   
   Empower parents to form home education co-ops and micro schools in collaboration with other parents, recognising that parents are uniquely positioned to cater to their children’s needs and strengths. These co-ops will be exempt from the regulatory burdens faced by larger institutions, enabling more flexible and personalised education options.
   
   
5. Place the cost of university on those who benefit.
   
   Australia will retain a HECS-style delayed payment scheme, but such loans should only be extended to those who are committed to paying them back.