Federal election 2025: ‘Woke agenda’ in schools on Peter Dutton’s chopping block

Peter Dutton has been accused by Labor of copying “half-baked ideas imported from the US”, after he left the door open to slashing the federal education department and cracking down on “woke agendas” in schools.

The Opposition Leader has flagged a Coalition government could put conditions on federal funding, and the department could be slimmed down with cuts on “back office operations”.

Asked at a Sky News forum in his Dickson electorate on Monday night what the Coalition would do to combat the “woke agenda” in education, Mr Dutton declined to use the term but said the Commonwealth could “influence” states about what schools taught.

“We should be saying to the states … that we want our kids to be taught the curriculum, and we want our kids to be taught what it is they need to take on as they face the challenges of the world, and not be guided into some sort of an agenda that’s come out of universities,” he said.

Asked to elaborate at his Tuesday press conference, Mr Dutton said he wants students at high school and universities to receive education that “reflect community standards”, in a major sign he would oversee a crackdown if he wins the May 3 election.

“I support young Australians being able to think freely, being able to assess what is before them and not being told and indoctrinated by something that is the agenda of others and that is the approach we would take,” he said.

“I want to make sure our kids, whether they are (at) school or for young Australians at universities, are receiving the education their parents would expect them to.

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“Our position will reflect community standards in relation to what is being taught at our schools and universities.”

Labor were quick to jump on this, accusing him of copying “half-baked ideas imported from the US” — referring to Mr Musk’s DOGE cuts to the US education department.

“Abolishing the Department of Education is just the start. This is the thin edge of the wedge,” Labor spokesman and Education Minister Jason Clare said.

“Peter Dutton’s bigger agenda is to cut funding from our schools. That’s what the Liberals always do.”

Mr Dutton had been asked if he would pledge not to make cuts to health, education, the ABC or SBS on Tuesday, to which he replied: “I want to make sure that we are spending money on frontline services, not back office operations,”.

The Greens also slammed Mr Dutton’s latest plan.

“Kids in Australia deserve a world class, free public education, not threats and bluster from a wannabe Trump,” education spokeswoman Penny Allman-Payne said.

The Australian Education Union said Mr Dutton needed to come clean “immediately” on his plans for public education cuts.

“We have had no clarity on the cuts Peter Dutton plans to make to education, nor will he come clean on what his plans are for public education,” AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe said.

“He is taking a leaf from the Trump playbook by going for the Department of Education by threatening to cut thousands of jobs, control what teachers teach – and pull funding if they don’t comply with his ideology.

“Peter Dutton’s proposed control of the school curriculum is chilling, when we see what is happening in the US with book banning and the destruction of teacher’s professional autonomy.”

The union has written to Mr Dutton, asking for bipartisan support for the public school funding deals finalised with the states by the Albanese Government.