Opposition calls on Minns government to reinstate back-to-school vouchers

More than 3 million back to school vouchers were redeemed by families last year, sparking calls for the axed program to be reinstated. What do you think? Take our poll.

Almost 3.5 million back to school vouchers were redeemed by NSW families last year, sparking calls for the axed program to be reinstated amid cost-of-living pressures.

Analysis of newly released data examining the uptake of back to school vouchers showed that 3,494,137 vouchers were redeemed in NSW in 2023, most of which were claimed by lower socio-economic and regional electorates.

Western Sydney and southwest Sydney dominated the take-up, with families in Liverpool, Riverstone, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Camden, Mount Druitt, Kellyville, Riverstone and Wyong redeeming the most vouchers in the state.

In its first budget, Labor revealed it would not renew the cost-of-living assistance package that gave all parents three $50 vouchers to subsidise the cost of school supplies, uniforms and technology.

A spokesman for NSW Education Minister Pru Car described the vouchers as a one-off “cash splash”, a description former education minister Sarah Mitchell has firmly rejected.

“For this Education Minister and Minister for Western Sydney to call the program a ‘cash splash’ is both arrogant and out of touch with the thousands of families in her own electorate and across Western Sydney who used the vouchers last year,” Ms Mitchell, now opposition education spokeswoman, said.

“This data clearly shows that millions of parents across NSW redeemed the back to school vouchers last year.

“There is no doubt the vouchers were an important cost-of-living measure that families relied upon to help them buy school uniforms and supplies, and now, thanks to Chris Minns and Labor, that support for household budgets has been stripped away.”.

NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman described the move as being “out of touch”.

“While households struggle with Labor’s cost of living crisis, the Minns Labor government has axed back to school vouchers, slashed Active Kids, Creative Kids and First Lap and limited energy relief.

“Axing back to school vouchers will impact Western and southwestern Sydney families particularly hard at a time when they can least afford it.

“Chris Minns must front up and explain to families why his government has abandoned them.

“Chris Minns must restore these vouchers immediately and provide meaningful relief for families and households across our state,” Mr Speakman said.

The majority of NSW students head back into the classroom on Tuesday.

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