Early voting begins today for the Queensland Election, as Premier Steven Miles vows to make school lunches free for students through to year 6 if Labor is re-elected.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the proposed free lunch program would commence next year, available to students in the state school system.
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The promise follows numerous other cost-of-living softeners ahead of the October 26th election, including $1000 energy rebates, 50 cents public transport fees, $200 children’s sports activities and capped petrol price increases.
The LNP has called the scheme “desperate”, claiming Labor copied the Greens. The Greens have also promised free lunches if elected to all state schools through to year 12.
“That will reduce the cost of groceries for families,” Miles said, “It’s something I’ve been passionate about since I was the health minister.”
Miles pointed to how the US introduced a free lunch program in the 1940s, and how New Zealand recently expanded their efforts to give students free lunch.
The program would cost Australia $1.4 billion, and save parents approximately $1,600 per child, per year.
“It’s for the kids who later today will get an empty lunch box out to hide the fact that they don’t have their own lunch,” he said.
Miles also said some teachers have been “dipping into their own pockets” to make sure children in their class are fed.
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