What you said about Premier Steven Miles’ proposal for free lunch for all state school students

There has been a significant reaction to Premier Steven Miles’ election pledge for free lunches for all state school students, with some slamming the plans, while others are singing its praises. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Queensland Premier Steven Miles in a screengrab from one of his Lunchbox chats. Picture: TikTok

There has been a significant reaction to Premier Steven Miles’ election pledge for free lunches for all state school students, with voters slamming the mega splash of taxpayer funds before the election.

Premier Steven Miles has vowed to make sure every Queensland child attending a state primary school will have access to a free lunch each day if Labor is re-elected.

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.

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.

FOLLOW OUR COMPLETE ELECTION COVERAGE HERE

The major cost-of-living move could save parents and caregivers an estimated $1600 per child each year, sparking significant household budget and time savings.

The election pledge generated a signification reaction from readers with many questioning how the state government will be able to afford it, while some readers were supportive of the proposal.

WHAT YOU SAID

‘Is his middle name Oprah?’

Victoria – Can people really see primary school kids eating the free lunch that’s provided.

Bruce – Miles will be able to volunteer at the tuckshop after the election....full time.

Don – Is his middle name Oprah?

Kim – So no money for a decent stadium, no money for heavy rail to the Sunshine Coast, no money for fixing the highways, but our kids get a “free lunch”!!! What an absolute joke. Good riddance to this clown in a few weeks!

Perry – Is there no end this mega spend rubbish. Come on Giggles what about a free lunch at the RSL every week for us pensioners

Robbo – Hey Miles how about getting everyone a free Tesla?? Great idea, zero emmissions.

‘No such thing as a free lunch’

Mike – WHY have Labor come up with this stupid idea now – they have been in Government for almost all of the past 30 years.

They have maxxed out our children and grand kids credit cards and are now intent on maxxing out our great grand kids credit cards trying to save their taxpayer funded seats.

They ALL need to be shown the door real fast

Lelia – Been making too many sandwiches on Tik Tok Steve.

Robbo – Here we go again, Just keep throwing billions of taxpayers money at the people for votes . Irresponsible to the max. Grow up Miles

Grassroots – This idea is a sandwich short of a picnic

Roger – Next there will be free beer on Saturdays for us poor voting punters!

Mark1 – As the old saying goes, There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

The people who made up this saying had a politician like Miles in mind.

Em – Why stop at free lunches, all but free transport.....why not free houses for everyone Premier? One day someone in the Tower of Power will realise that free isn’t free and we all have to pay for it. Hope he’s started clearing his desk out. Bring on the election and a change of government.

Margaret – Well, Im not voting for free lunches!

‘Awesome initiative’

Matt Brisbane (Edited) – Great initiative. Should it extend this to the elderly with more financial support to Meals on Wheels.

Mick – what an awesome initiative. Coming from the UK where free school dinners were available, this enables kids to have a healthy meal.

Blimey Charlie – Now what will David do, remembering they thought the 50 cent fares were a thought bubble, opps now it’s a great idea.

Kate – You say you want to make this universal to quote universal to “avoid stigmatising the kids that need the food the most”. then make it free lunches for students attending all schools of all sectors state, independent, catholic and special assistance school … Not all parents who are struggling have children attending state schools

Neil – Less burden on the family budget, we had free milk in our day.

Dale’s Thoughts – I think this will be a popular move so Crisafulli will probably copy it.

Originally published as What you said about Premier Steven Miles’ proposal for free lunch for all state school students