‘Many will struggle if bonus axed’
Federal Government figures show 3357 families in the City of Bunbury, and the shires of Capel and Dardanup will lose thousands of dollars if the Schoolkids Bonus is scrapped.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the election promised to cut the payment, which was a key policy under former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Eligible families received an annual payment of $410 for each primary school student and $800 for each secondary student.
Figures released last week show 8459 families from the Forrest electorate, with 15,167 primary and secondary students, will miss out on the bonus if it is scrapped.
South Bunbury P&C vice-president Glenn Gates said there was a mix of families at the school, with some who would “definitely” be impacted if the bonus stopped.
“They will struggle to provide all the resources and all the extras that made learning successful for their children, ” he said.
Mr Gates said there was also a potential for the P&C’s fundraising efforts to be effected if the bonus was cut.
Last year the P&C, through the school community, raised more than $24,000 for additional equipment and resources that improved the school’s learning programs.
“If the bonus was cut this would reduce the potential for the school community to contribute to future fundraising efforts, ” Mr Gates said.
The Legislation to scrap the bonus has been bogged down in the Senate, with Labor and the Greens, who hold the majority, refusing to pass the Bill.
WA Labor Senator Sue Lines dismissed suggestions the Government had a mandate to cut the bonus.
“The election was not won or lost on this issue, ” she said.
“I sincerely doubt families had the scrapping of this bonus in mind when they hit the polls last September.”
However, Federal Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the bonus was funded by Government borrowing and would have to be repaid in the future with interest.
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