Free lunch for state school students in massive election promise

The Premier has detailed Labor’s free lunch election pledge, as he denied stripping it from the Greens who pushed for free lunches years ago when it was rubbished by Labor ministers as “irresponsible”. HAVE YOUR SAY

Premier Steven Miles has pledged access to free lunch for all state school kids. Pics Adam Head

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Premier Steven Miles has detailed Labor’s free lunch election pledge, as he denied stripping it from the Greens who pushed for free lunches years ago when it was rubbushed by Labor ministers as “irresponsible”.

Mr Miles on Sunday said the government’s free school lunch program would not be extended to independent or faith based schools, as it was also confirmed the funding forecast was made on the assumption of a 50 per cent take up rate by students.

As revealed in The Sunday Mail, Mr Miles on Sunday pledged every Queensland child attending a state primary school will have access to a free lunch each day if Labor is re-elected, in what Mr Miles is billing as the biggest education reform in nearly 20 years.

The major cost-of-living move would 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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Queensland Premier Steven Miles making lunch. Picture: TikTok

Queensland Premier Steven Miles from one of his Lunch box chats. Picture: TikTok

It means more than 320,000 children would have access to a free meal each day, in a policy set to cost $1.4bn across four years.

Mr Miles unveiled 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.

He confirmed funding modelling was based on each lunch costing $8.

With roughly 200 days in the school calendar year, if all students decided to take up the free lunch every school day, the program would cost more than $2bn.

Labor’s free school lunch promise came on the same day the Greens were 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 on Sunday denied stripping the policy from the Greens after the party in 2021 pushed for a free lunch program at all state primary schools.

Senior ministers Grace Grace and now-education Minister Di Farmer at the time rubbished the Greens proposal, saying it was unnecessary and would not address root causes of hunger and socio-economic inequality.

“Basically, we are trying to solve a problem that does not exist but that will cost $1.6bn,” Ms Grace said at the time.

Ms Farmer had said the “typical” Greens policy was “simply irresponsible” by suggesting that one single thing would fix the huge issue of children going hungry.

Asked on Sunday what the difference was between the 2021 Greens policy and now, Mr Miles responded: “I’m the Premier now.”

“I don’t spend too much time looking at the Greens policies,” he said

“This is school lunches because it’s something that I’m passionate about, it’s something I’ve been talking about for the entire 10 months.”

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.

Mr Miles spruiked the free lunches plan as a cost-of-living win and an investment in the state’s future.

“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.

Labor said nutritionists and dieticians would be consulted to create the lunch menu under a lunch taskforce, which Mr Miles said would be ready to roll out next year if Labor is re-elected.

“There will need to be vegan and gluten free options, and we’ll need to work through all of the other allergies that we need to manage,” he said.

“As well as working through the logistics of the program to determine all of the food we have ... are based on seasonality.”

Mr Miles said existing tuckshop and school food initiatives had laid the foundation for logistical planning.

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.

Free lunches would save families thousands each year.

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 an 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”.

Mr Miles on Sunday confirmed the program would not be extended to independent or faith schools as they did not fall under the state government’s responsibility.

There are also no immediate plans to roll out free lunches at state high schools.

“Most independent schools, I’m sure, already have some programs like this,” Mr Miles said.

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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Originally published as Free lunch for state school students in massive election promise