Back to School Costs Hitting Bonner Families Hard Under Labor

Back to school costs hitting Bonner families hard under Labor

Charity groups are ringing the alarm bell over the spike in young families burdened by the cost of getting their kids back to school.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, and Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson, said the Albanese government’s failure to address the cost-of-living crisis was leaving too many Australian families unable to afford basic school supplies, uniforms or digital devices.

“In Bonner, so many families are struggling to meet the basic costs of going back to school,” Mr Vasta said.

“This year parents will be forced to pay on average $5,043 for secondary students and $2,671 for primary students, with almost one in three parents unable to afford back-to-school expenses,” Mr Vasta said.

“Under Labor, education costs have risen an alarming 11 per cent and parents are being forced to make impossible choices,” Senator Henderson said.

Senator Henderson said charities are being inundated by families desperate for help.

At a visit to the Les Twentyman Foundation’s Back to School program in Footscray, Melbourne, Senator Henderson saw first-hand the difference the charity is making to the lives of hundreds of students being supported with textbooks, stationery, scientific calculators and refurbished laptops.

“I was delighted to meet Year 7 student Indiana who received a new laptop which will be life changing,” Senator Henderson said.

“Last year, the Les Twentyman Foundation’s Back to School program supported 778 students, an increase of 40 per cent, and demand is growing again this year.

The Smith Family’s recent Pulse survey also paints a grim picture, with 87 per cent of parents worried about affording back-to-school costs.

The findings reveal more than half of parents fear their children will miss out on essential digital devices, and nearly 60 per cent said 2024 was harder than ever to cover school costs due to skyrocketing everyday expenses like groceries, rent, and petrol.

“Education is a fundamental right; yet under Labor, it is becoming increasingly out of reach for many Australian families,” Senator Henderson said.

“Children cannot reach their best potential if they cannot access the basics to succeed in the classroom.

“Only a Coalition government will fight cost-of-living pressures, build a stronger economy and get Australia back on track,” Senator Henderson said.

 

Media contacts:

Henderson: Aaron Langmaid 0405 400 191

Vasta: Sarah Crawford 0431 345 362