This ACT government has done some stupid things in its time, but cutting education spending must be up there for the craziest.

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We have been reading lately of the decline in the abilities of our children to read and write (it's been happening for decades). In the face of that information, you would think our government would be looking at ways of stopping that decline, and I don't think any sane person would think cutting the budget would be the answer.

To my mind, it all starts with the adoption of the "inclusion" policy, including children with learning difficulties into mainstream classes. When my children were in primary school (in the 70s and 80s, and in NSW), these children attended the local school, but were taught in a separate area, by teachers with special education skills, and with low student-teacher ratios.

The children were integrated in the playground, but segregated in the classrooms.

I have a young friend who is a teacher here in the ACT, whose class includes children with learning difficulties, including autism. This situation can be very disruptive, depriving the brighter children of an environment conducive to learning. Is there any wonder that our standards are declining?

So what's the answer? Cut the budget of the schools? I would suggest that a total rethink of how the education department works would be a start. I have a dyslexic grandson who went through his education in Canberra. Although supported, as much as they were able, by his teachers, he had no help to overcome his disability.

I also have a family member who studied for years to become a primary teacher but, since encountering this situation, is now considering a new career. No wonder there is a teacher shortage.

It is hard to be optimistic about regional co-operation when local taxpayers carry a $10 million annual loss educating cross-border students. It exposes the limits of our ACT-NSW Memorandum of Understanding for Regional Collaboration.

The cross-border dynamic here is unique: as the nation's capital surrounded by NSW, standard national funding formulas utterly fail to reflect our actual expenses. Whenever hard financial realities hit, our governments retreat into adversarial corners rather than work together.

The student funding shortfall is just the tip of the iceberg, compounded by heavy losses across health catchments and transport networks.

Even after minor recognition from the Commonwealth Grants Commission, the total net uncompensated costs incurred by the ACT for these services are about $39 million a year, leaving our local budget perpetually short when carving up the GST pool.

Canberra functions as a vital capital hub, yet current federal formulas treat us like an isolated city-state, leaving everyday local ratepayers to shoulder millions in hidden expenses for visitors. With tougher assembly challenges looming ahead of the 2028 elections local voters should be looking at all representatives to make the case for their causes and methods.

Aspiring representatives at both territorial and federal levels must step up.

These cross-border pressures and other unfunded national capital imposts (approximately $30 million) require politicians who actually understand commonwealth-state financial frameworks so they can fight effectively to secure fair financial support for our community.

John D. Purcell PSM, Kambah

First-class hospital........

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