2 August 2024
The SA Greens are calling for the State Government to make big banks pay for free school breakfasts and lunches following a new survey from the Smith Family that found one in four Australian families are struggling to afford school lunches and snacks.
The survey of more than 1000 Australian parents found 26 per cent were either struggling to pay for, or could not afford, school lunches.
“The cost of living is skyrocketing out of control and more South Australians are struggling to make ends meet than ever before. Meanwhile, the big banks are still making record profits. With over a quarter of Australian families struggling to pay for lunches for their kids, SA Labor should revive their Big Banks levy and use the money raised to provide a free breakfast and lunches program. It’s time for the big banks to actually invest in our community,” said Greens SA Treasury Spokesperson Robert Simms MLC.
“Many places around the world provide free school breakfasts and lunches. It’s time for SA to do the same. This would ensure that all children in our state have access to healthy, nutritious meals and are able to realise their full potential in the classroom.”
Labor first proposed a levy on major banks in 2017 but abandoned the plan. It has been estimated that a levy like the one proposed by Labor of 0.05% of total liabilities per quarter on the five big banks that are subject to the Commonwealth’s Major Bank levy would raise $340 million every year.
The Greens have estimated that a free breakfasts and lunches program would cost an average of $128 million a year. Public schools provide lunches in Japan, Norway, France, and some parts of the United States.
Earlier this week Mr. Simms announced that he will move an amendment to the State Government’s Budget Measures Bill when Parliament resumes to charge banks that close their branches 20 per cent of the land value in stamp duty unless the sale is made to another financial institution for the purposes of operating a bank branch.