Back to school bites: Education, stationary, uniform costs skyrocket

Gone are the days of a fancy lunch box, the latest stationary and brand new uniforms. Australian families are struggling with the back to school basics as the cost of living continues to bite.

Labor’s record on the cost of living will be in the spotlight during what could be Anthony Albanese’s final two sitting weeks as Prime Minister, with the Coalition using back-to- school cost pressures to argue he has failed Australians.

The cost of putting kids in extra-curricular sport has skyrocketed by 17 per cent since March 2022 while stationery and uniforms are up by 16 and nine per cent respectively.

The overall cost of education has increased by 12 per cent with charities on the frontline of the cost of living crisis revealing laptops and iPads for school were one of the biggest drains on family budgets.

Australians are struggling to afford the humble school lunch.

The Smiths Family chief executive Doug Taylor said 30 per cent of the 67,000 vulnerable children being supported by the charity did not have access to a laptop at home.

“Nine out of 10 parents told us they are worried about being able to afford everything child needs for the school year ahead,” Mr Taylor said.

“They are worried about being able to afford digital technology and the education activities in school and out of school.”

The Coalition analysis found it was increasingly harder for families to serve up a healthy breakfast or lunch box to their kids with staples like cereal up 21 per cent, eggs up 36 per cent, cheese up 20 per cent and cakes and biscuits now costing 22 per cent more.

Opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Coalition will use the data this week to have a final cost-of-living show down before Mr Albanese is expected to announce an election for either April or May.

The Opposition is hoping to convince voters they are worse off now than they were when they elected Labor.

Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor said household budgets are at “breaking point”.

A government spokesman said most of these items were “already galloping in price when the Liberals left office. Inflation was higher and rising under the Liberals and it’s now lower and falling under Labor; around a third of what we ­inherited”.

Originally published as Back to school bites: Education, stationary, uniform costs skyrocket