OPPOSITION leader Matthew Guy MP visited Bonbeach to announce the state Liberal-Nationals’ latest election promise, to provide funding to government schools to help students pay for textbooks.
“An elected Liberal Nationals Government will help provide some support and relief for families with school children. Most families do it a little tougher after Christmas and at the start of the school year with all the added expenses,” Mr Guy said.
“The Free School Books for Students program will ease the financial squeeze for parents of secondary students at government schools. A good education is also the key to hope and opportunity for school children which is why making it easier for families to freely obtain the required textbooks is so important.”
Carrum Liberal candidate Donna Bauer accompanied Mr Guy to make the announcement.
“I’m delighted about this policy. As a mother of four sons, it’s always an expensive time for families when booklist orders come around every year. This is a great way for us to support families, it’s not means tested and there is no limit to the number of students per family that can receive assistance,” Ms Bauer said.
Ms Bauer made another education promise the same week, when she pledged that an elected Liberal nationals government would rebuild Bonbeach primary and pre-school. Labor Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny has also announced $8.9 million in budgeted funding for the completion of that rebuild.
Students are expected to return their books from the at the end of the year in good condition.
The state opposition pledged to start planning the program within 100 days of the election, with the program to start being phased in at the start of 2020.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 24 October 2018
