5 June 2023
The State Government’s announcement that it will extend fee discounts for the parents of children in the public system and expand a free school breakfasts program is welcome, but the Government should go further say The Greens.
“Fee discounts and a free breakfast program are welcome measures that will provide some relief to South Australian families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, but the State Government should go further,” said SA Greens Education Spokesperson Robert Simms MLC.
“Last year South Australian parents had to pay hundreds of dollars in public school fees. Scrapping school fees entirely and introducing a free school lunches and breakfast plan in public schools would reduce pressure on parents, improve learning outcomes and ensure that every South Australian child receives the education they deserve.”
Last month, The Greens wrote to Treasurer Stephen Mullighan calling for a range of measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, including a free public school breakfast and lunches programs and abolishing public schools fees to be paid for by a Big Bank Levy like the one proposed by Labor in 2017.