Council
18 July, 2024
MP vows to fight for funding fairness
THE Victorian Nationals have launched a Fair School Bonus campaign to fight for more equitable access for regional families to the Victorian Government’s “unfair” School Saving Bonus.
The $400 bonus, which was announced in the State Budget, automatically applies to every Victorian government school student but it is rigorously restricted for students attending low-fee Catholic and independent schools.
Among the families in Lowan who are ineligible to receive the bonus are those with students attending St Colman’s Primary School.
Ms Kealy, the deputy leader of The Nationals, expressed her disappointment for the scheme.
She said high-income families with children attending government schools would receive the bonus, while families who send their children to non-government schools will miss out entirely.
Ms Kealy said the system “must be fair for all families”.
“The bonus must provide cost-of-living relief for all those in need,” she said.
“More than 50 per cent of students come from disadvantaged families in many regional low-fee Catholic schools, yet under Labor’s scheme only a small percentage of these students will be eligible for the $400 bonus.
“If the Allan Labor Government wants to support regional Victorians with cost-of-living assistance, they should have done it fairly.
“It is terrible to exclude tens of thousands of hardworking families in regional Victoria based on their choice of school for their children.
“Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
Ms Kealy encouraged regional Victorians to show their support for The National’s Fair School Bonus Campaign.
The party launched a parliamentary petition, which she welcomed the wider community to sign by visiting vicn.at/schoolsavingbonus.