Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari demands assets from obsolete trust be returned to public education

Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari has accused the Cook Government of trying to shift more than $36 million from an obsolete trust account earmarked for public schools into the “black hole” of government coffers. Under State Government plans to wind up an endowment trust — created in 1909 to support public education — that has lain dormant for years, all of its assets would be transferred into consolidated revenue. Mr Staltari said the trust held around $13 million in cash as well as land in Fremantle that had previously been valued by the Government at $6.85 million, but which had since been independently valued at around $26 million. The Opposition is seeking to introduce an amendment to the Public Education Endowment Repeal Bill to ensure the estimated $36 million in assets are reserved for the exclusive use of public schools. The government has previously claimed the assets were “not a viable mechanism” to supplement education funding. While Mr Staltari told Parliament on Wednesday he agreed the trust was “past its use-by date”, he believed those funds should be retained for the sole use of schools. He wanted a guarantee that the funds would not “disappear into the black hole of consolidated revenue”. “Ask any teacher, principal or parent in our public schools what even a portion of $36 million will do for their school and they will tell you it could be transformational,” he said. “For decades, this endowment has been intended for one purpose ...funding public education. “The Cook Labor Government’s attempt to roll these funds into its central coffers will break that promise and leave no guarantee that these funds will go to our public schools.” Education Minister Sabine Winton said: “Given the Opposition provided the Government with no notice of its intention to propose amendments — despite multiple opportunities — we will take the appropriate time to consider the amendment.” Ms Winton said the Cook Government was proud of its strong commitment to public education. “Over the past eight years, we’ve invested $4.8 billion in school infrastructure across WA, with a further $775 million committed in the 2025 election,” she said.