Plan for Queensland school kids to get free breakfast and lunch

TOOWOOMBA school students would receive free breakfast and lunch if an ambitious plan from local Greens candidates come to fruition.

Toowoomba South candidate Thomas Coyne and Toowoomba North candidate Alyce Nelligan have welcomed their party’s plan to establish a universal, free school breakfast and lunch program in every state primary and secondary school and said it would bring much-needed support for struggling families in Toowoomba.

“With our community struggling under the weight of record unemployment and a once-in-a-generation recession, this plan will bring much-needed relief for struggling families,” Ms Nelligan said.

“The Greens are committed to reducing poverty and ensuring every child has the resources to succeed.”

Mr Coyne said across Queensland, 170,000 kids go to school every day without eating breakfast.

“A lack of proper nutrition reduces attention span and makes it more difficult for a child to learn,” he said.

Mr Coyne said the program across the state would cost $374 million and all meals would adhere to the Australian Dietary Guidelines.