Labor champions fee-free public school education

SCHOOL fees at all Tasmanian public schools would be removed from next year under a $24 million-a-year plan if Labor wins majority government.

And Labor would also introduce 3000 $1000 TasTAFE scholarships as part of its plan to rebuild the training centre.

At the launch of Labor’s State Election campaign, party leader Rebecca White said it would deliver “genuine free public education” for all students in Tasmania.

“There is no doubt that the Labor Party has always been the defender of public education, we think this is a fundamental principle and a right for every student to be able to access public education and get top quality education,” she said.

“It will enable all parents to get their students to school without any of those financial barriers that sometimes do present problems.”

Ms White said the decision to waive the cost of public school fees will save a Tasmanian family with three kids about $1800 a year.

And the party would provide free bus transport for all students to their closest public school, and make participating in sport more affordable through its Active Kids initiative.

The $24 million-a-year initiative is in addition to Labor’s previously promised $196 million for education.

Liberal Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said nearly $100 million would be ripped out of schools under the Labor policy.

“This will mean the cancellation of vital program such as excursions, performances and school camps — all of which are paid for individually by schools out of their school levies,” he said.

“Even more bizarrely, the policy will benefit the most well-

There is no doubt that the Labor Party has always been the defender of public education

LABOR LEADER BEC WHITE

off families in our community while doing nothing to assist those doing it tough — almost 40 per cent of families on lower incomes already are exempt from paying school levies.

“Labor is now extending this exemption to even families on hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

“Labor supporters will be scratching their heads as to why Ms White wants to give a $1800 cheque to a family earning over $300,000 per year, but absolutely nothing to a family doing it tough. The policy may be headline-grabbing on the surface, but when you scratch beneath you find it will hurt families and harm our education system.

“It just goes to show Labor aren’t ready to govern.”

The Liberals launched their education policy last week.