Labor pushes school fees to the top of the class

David Pisoni MP

Shadow Minister for Education
Shadow Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Development

Labor pushes school fees to the top of the class

South Australian families preparing for a new school year will need to brace themselves for more cost of living pressures as public school fees increase again in 2012.

Premier Weatherill’s first budget as Education Minister in 2010 saw the State Labor Government positioned to reap an additional $25 million in school fees from South Australian families.

Shadow Minister for Education David Pisoni said Mr Weatherill would collect $2.6 million more in schools fees this year than in 2010, despite fewer enrolments in public schools.

“When Labor came to office in 2002, the Government collected just $17.7 million, or $102 per student, from parents for school fees,” Mr Pisoni said.

“That figure has now blown out to $82.5 million, or $512 per student – a massive increase of 400 per cent.

“With CPI increasing by just 33 per cent over the same period, Labor’s blatant revenue raising has seen school fees increase by 12 times more than inflation. This is simply not good enough.

“South Australian families are already struggling under increasing of cost of living pressures and many will struggle to pay these increased school fees.

“But as always, Labor’s answer to their own poor financial management is to increase taxes and charges for South Australian families and businesses.

“For South Australian families, the arrival of school fee invoices this year will be another reminder of mismanagement by a Labor Government that is out of touch with the community.

“South Australians in Ramsay and Port Adelaide should not forget this when they go to the polls and vote on the 11th of February.”