Easing financial pressure for young WA families focus of election promises
Young families grappling with the cost of living are the focus of policies announced by WA Labor and the Liberals targeting education and health ahead of the March state election.
Labor has pledged a $136 million dollar package for families with school-aged children if it is re-elected, while the Liberals were spruiking a $110 million early childhood health package.
Labor’s education pitch to voters featured a second round of the Student Assistance Payment, which would allow parents to claim $150 for every kindergarten or primary school child and $250 for high school pupils.
“It’s important to take the pressure off WA families when it comes to the cost of living,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“Last time we did the WA Student Assistance Payment, it helped families of over 400,000 kids to deal with the ongoing cost of the school year.”
Premier Roger Cook said he wants to take financial pressure off WA families. (ABC News: Courtney Withers )
The policy, costed at $89 million, was intended to help families pay for school essentials such as uniforms, shoes, excursions and stationery, however roughly 142,000 families did not cash in on the payment last year because parents weren’t aware of the payment and missed the deadline.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti said if Labor was re-elected, the second round of funding would roll out in term two and there would be a focus on making families aware they were eligible.
“We’re adding more funding into the administration of this scheme particularly for schools up north where we saw take up not as high as we’d wanted,” Ms Saffioti said.
“So, we’re putting more money in to make sure that we can get a higher take up, in particular in some of the schools in remote WA.”
Treasurer Rita Saffioti said there would be a focus on making families aware of the payments they can apply for. (ABC News: Courtney Withers )
Expansion of School Breakfast Program
Labor’s education package would also allocate $37 million to expand the School Breakfast Program from running two days a week at 500 schools to five days a week at 650 schools.
“The School Breakfast Program plays such an important role in making sure students get a decent meal at the beginning of the day so they’re ready to learn when they step into the classroom,” Mr Cook said.
“This means that every young West Aussie who needs to have a full belly when they walk into the classroom at the beginning of the day will have an opportunity to do so.”
Labor is promising $37 million to expand the School Breakfast Program. (AAP: Paul Miller)
The Western Australian Council of Social Service Chief Executive Officer Louise Giolitto said the expansion of the program was a major win for families doing it tough.
“We have been calling for an expansion of the School Breakfast Program as part of our targeted cost of living election campaign, and it is extremely pleasing to see the State Government listening to the sector,” Ms Giolitto said.
“Today’s announcement is a direct, targeted cost of living measure that will help those in our community doing it toughest.”
A further $10 million would be spent on supporting public school canteens to increase access to healthy and affordable lunches.
Chief executive of the Western Australia Council of Social Services, Louise Giolitto, has welcomed Labor’s education pledge. (ABC News: Jake Sturmer)
Liberals to “revolutionise” early childhood
Meanwhile the Liberals have turned their attention to children’s health with a package covering nine key areas — including additional ADHD support in schools, a trial of speech pathology services in primary schools, five mobile dental services in the regions and vouchers for spectacles.
The $110 million dollar plan aims to “revolutionise early childhood development” by supporting GPs, upskilling teachers with regards to children with ADHD and deliver various mobile allied health services.
“These commitments are all about ensuring our children have the best start in life,” Liberal leader Libby Mettam said.
“They are all about addressing the significant wait lists that we have seen under the Cook-Labor Government.”
Liberal leader Libby Mettam has announced a $110 million election commitment for early childhood intervention and services. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd)
Ms Mettam said the package would take the “pressure off specialist services” by addressing issues in early development sooner.
The package largely encompasses recommendations from a Select Committee’s report into Child Development Services, which Liberal member and spokesperson for early childhood education Donna Faragher is a part of.
“This policy announcement is all about putting a priority on children,” Ms Faragher said.
“Right now, in metropolitan Perth, primary school-aged children are waiting nearly two years to see a paediatrician, nearly two years to see a clinic psychologist and over 10 months to see a speech pathologist.”
