Free lunch for state school students in massive election promise
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, unless Steven Miles is Premier. Labor will today announce a massive election pledge that could save parents about $1600 per child each year.
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Every Queensland child attending a state primary school will have access to a free lunch each day if Labor is re-elected, in what Premier Steven Miles is billing as the biggest education reform in nearly 20 years.
The major cost-of-living move will save parents and caregivers an estimated $1600 per child each year, sparking significant household budget and time savings.
Under the promise a re-elected Labor government would provide a free healthy lunch to every state school student between Prep and Year 6 from Term 1, 2025.
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It means more than 326,000 children will have access to a free meal each day, in a policy set to cost $1.4bn across four years.
Mr Miles will unveil his most significant re-election pitch yet to a crowd of the party faithful at Queensland Labor’s campaign launch on Sunday — a day before voters begin heading to the polls.
“Just like 50 cent fares, free school lunches for our littlest Queenslanders is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” he said.
“But I need a mandate to do so in my own right.
“Fundamentally, this is an investment in our state’s future.”
The state government has billed the commitment as the biggest reform to Queensland’s education system since Prep was introduced in 2007.
Under the plan the meals would be delivered in partnership with the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops, P&Cs Queensland, school principals, Health and Wellbeing Queensland and non-government food providers.
Parents and caregivers can opt-in for free lunch every day or just on selected days.
The major free lunch commitment is the latest in a series of cost-of-living focused policies Mr Miles has introduced since becoming Premier in December, including pumping and extra $15m into school and community food relief programs at the recent budget.
Mr Miles has built a significant social media following since taking on the top job through weekly “lunch box chats”, where the Premier films himself making school lunches for his children including daughter Bridie while spruiking government policy.
“Making sure Queensland kids have the best start in life is something I’m very passionate about,” he said.
“High food prices are one of the biggest pressures families tell me they’re under. And that means, right now, too many kids are going to school hungry.
“(This) will put money back in the pockets of Queensland parents and relieve pressure on parents on busy school nights.”
The free lunch program for primary state school children would be universal to “avoid stigmatising the kids that need the food the most”.
According to the government, the evaluation of universal free school meal programs globally has shown a return on investment of 2.5 times to 7 times in human health and economic benefits.
And long-term studies have shown universal free school lunches helps to lower social inequality, increase women’s participation in the workforce and help to prevent childhood obesity.
Labor’s free school lunch promise will come on the same day the Greens was due to announce a policy of providing free school breakfast and lunch to all state school students.
The minor party, which has two MPs in state parliament, also took a universal school meals policy to the 2020 election, with their 2024 platform also offering a new grants program for community gardens in schools.
Mr Miles, in the lead-up to the election, vowed to lay out an “unashamedly ambitious” vision for Queensland.
“I can guarantee you two things; nobody will ever call me a small target, and I’m not about to die wondering,” he said.
Labor has since made several big ticket market interventionist election announcements — many of which have courted criticism — including a plan to build state-owned service stations and cap petrol price rises.
Mr Miles also vowed to set up a state-owned electricity retailer to undercut private power companies on price and give government-owned Ergon Energy competition in the regions.
This week he announced a plan to build 50 bulk-billing GP clinics--- despite primary healthcare and Medicare being a federal government responsibility.
Election sweeteners baked into the budget included a trial of 50 cent public transport fares — set to become permanent regardless if the LNP or Labor take government — and $1000 non-means tested electricity rebates.
Numerous polls, including the Courier-Mail’s YouGov, have predicted a significant swing against Labor and for the LNP to be handed the keys to government for the first time in nearly a decade.
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