There’s no such thing as a free lunch

LETTERS: At Labor’s state election campaign launch on the weekend, Premier Steven Miles committed to provide free lunches to every state primary school student, but it is not as easy as it sounds or looks.

At the Labor Party’s state election campaign launch on the weekend, Premier Steven Miles committed to provide free lunches to every state primary school student, at a cost to the state budget of $1.4bn (C-M, 14/10).

He did not elaborate over what period of time that money would be available or last, and it is conditional of course on Labor winning the state election on October 26.

This election policy is one of the soundest and most sensible ones I have ever seen any leader offer, but it is not as easy as it sounds or looks.

Queensland has 572,160 students in 1264 state primary schools of all sizes, and at present many kids go hungry every day due to the cost of living pressures that many families are experiencing.

In 2024 a program called “Eat right, play right, learn well” was introduced at a cost of $49m, but how effective it is, no one seems to know.

With this latest announcement by the Premier and the level of money allocated, one must ask a couple of simple questions.

Is the $1.4bn going to be a yearly budget allocation to be locked in, or is it a one-term wonder?

And how much of the $1.4bn will be gobbled up in bureaucracy costs to put it in place, even before one kid gets his or her first sandwich?

One issue that confronts P&C tuckshops at present is getting volunteers.

State primary schools struggle to get parents to attend their meetings let alone volunteers to run and work in tuckshops.

A school with a couple hundred kids attending their tuckshop will have to be converted into a production line to have food available at lunch time.

It’s a great idea that may not eventuate.

Les Bryant, Durack

Premier Steven Miles’ announcement of free student lunches reeks of cheap, vote-grabbing politics.

I can imagine the overworked education department recruitment staff rolling their eyes wishing they had that sort of money to provide incentives to attract teachers to fill the many vacancies in schools.

And will this add another parental role to the jobs of the dedicated workers in our one and two-teacher schools?

It is a poorly designed policy that has the single goal of further wedging the Opposition in the policy war.

David Smith, Kuluin

There is no such thing as a free lunch, unless of course you are a Queensland primary school child.

Of course, that it would be free of cost to parents means the expense would be picked up by the state government, ie every taxpayer in Queensland.

No doubt this magnanimous gesture will be appreciated by some, but the average citizen will well remember the increase to the Queensland government debt of this so-called blatant election winner offer.

Raymond Edward Rose, Middle Park

How much forethought went into Steven Miles’ proposition of free lunches for state school students?

None obviously.

Firstly, it’s divisive.

Why wouldn’t private schools be included?

Secondly, the costing, which will surely blow out to be more than predicted, is money that would be more effectively used in other areas of education or health.

Thirdly, parents need to be responsible for feeding and clothing their children so spend some money on parent education classes.

Miles is irresponsible in proposing such an unworkable proposal.

M. Taylor, Toowoomba

In the story “Lunch plan puts Miles in pickle with schools” (C-M 14/10) we read that Premier Steven Miles’ plan to spend $1.4bn on free school lunches came on the same day as the Greens’ announcement of offering free breakfasts.

Finally we have some politicians “barking up the right tree” in order to modify human behaviour.

Animal trainers use praise and food treats as the major incentives to moderate animal behaviour.

Yet in schools, we continue to cling to the bygone era of resorting only to threats and punishment.

If we are finally ready to subdue unruly “hangry” behaviour, then Miles should spend the money expanding the “breakfast clubs” concept, as these are already being trialled successfully in certain schools and cater to the small percentage of children who want to participate.

If the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then maybe it’s true for children as well to eliminate some of the outrageous behaviour that continues to drive teachers away and prevent others from entering the teaching profession.

Donald C. Smith, Wynnum

It seems Premier Steven Miles has stolen the Greens’ playbook.

Free school lunches is his latest thought bubble, along with state-owned service stations and other vote-driven policies.

I suspect more will be proffered before polling day.

But I suspect Miles is, like the Greens, well aware he’ll never have to make good on his ludicrous promises.

He’s simply operating on the old principle that you can fool enough people for long enough to have them swallow the bait.

His aim, in the face of an electoral wipeout, is to save some of the furniture.

Facing a landslide of Campbell Newman proportions, he just might persuade enough voters in a few seats to remain loyal.

It’s a bold, if dodgy and cynical, plan but it might work.

And as for the borrowed billions wasted on the electricity rebate and 50c public transport fares, there’s plenty more where that came from.

Just ask the taxpayers.

Joe Hoffmann, Paddington

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COST OF REPUBLIC SWITCH

The republic movement still wants to wave its wand to convert Australia to a republic (“Republicans make mockery of royal visit”, C-M, 14/10).

But at what cost?

I personally have no objections to Australia becoming a republic.

What I do have concerns about is how much money would be wasted by politicians and committees to make the switch.

There’s a simple answer.

Wherever the title Governor-General appears, change it to President, and abolish all state governors.

And to stop the political appointment of “mates” to the role of president, I want to see the people elect the president at the same time as a federal election (less cost).

Kelvin Brown, Redbank

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

TOURETTE’S ISN’T A JOKE

I could not agree more with columnist Joe Hildebrand when he says that it is time to show the outrage culture the door, as not a day goes past without some group or other being offended by something (C-M, 12/10).

However, there are occasions when we should call out dubious, insensitive and hurtful comments and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent suggestion that a member of the Opposition had Tourette Syndrome is up there with the worst of them.

Hildebrand claims that it was said “jokingly” and the Prime Minister (pictured) “immediately withdrew the comment”.

Unfortunately you cannot “unsay” something.

Hildebrand also suggests that the only ones who were outraged were the Liberal politicians.

He must have missed the various interviews with the families of those suffering with this pretty awful neurological disorder including a mum with three children who have Tourette Syndrome.

What next to have a laugh about? Brain tumour, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea?

Hildebrand goes further in his defence of Albanese by saying that all the fuss caused by this “joke” meant that the attention which should have been paid to an “unthinkable terrorist atrocity” was reduced.

Those who are living with Tourette Syndrome probably beg to differ.

Carol da Costa-Roque, Wishart

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Originally published as There’s no such thing as a free lunch