Restoring Excellence in Australian Education with Senator Jonathon Duniam

In this episode, Senator Jonathon Duniam, Shadow Federal Minister for Education, joins the Centre for Independent Studies to outline the Coalition’s approach to education reform.

In conversation with CIS Director of Education Glenn Fahey, Duniam sets out a vision for restoring excellence in Australian classrooms. He argues that despite record funding over the past two decades, student achievement has declined — with one in three Year 9 students below minimum literacy and numeracy standards. The solution, he suggests, lies not in more spending but in smarter investment: evidence-based teacher training, a simplified curriculum, and a renewed focus on classroom fundamentals.

Together, Duniam and Fahey explore some of the most pressing challenges in education:

• How can Australia address falling results despite unprecedented funding?

• What reforms are needed in teacher training and entry pathways to raise classroom quality?

• Should the national curriculum return to basics and shed ideological overload?

• How can policymakers tackle persistent gaps in boys’ education, civics knowledge, and discipline?

While candid about the system’s failings, Duniam also emphasises the importance of bipartisan cooperation. He signals a willingness to work with Education Minister Jason Clare to pursue reforms in the national interest — aspiring for better outcomes rather than accepting mediocrity.

This episode offers a timely and wide-ranging discussion on the future of Australian schooling, highlighting both the urgency of reform and the opportunities for constructive collaboration.