Policy comes as debate continues over causes of and solutions to housing issues. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Education minister says funding agreement with Victoria ‘very close’ The education minister, Jason Clare , says a funding deal with Victoria to get public schools funded to Gonski levels over the next decade is “very close”. We’re very close, mate. I know [Victorian premier] Ben Carroll gets this and I’m optimistic that we’ll get this across the line. He understands how important it is that teachers are paid well, that they do the best or do the most important job in the country, but how important it is that we fix the funding of our schools – we’ve struck agreements now, 10–year agreements, with every state and territory acr