The cutoff for Tasmania’s student assistance scheme for school levies is too low, the state’s peak body for school associations says, after the Liberal party insisted a Labor policy of removing school fees was unnecessary due to the scheme.
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Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations president Lisa Gillard said the cost of school fees and levies was highly variable between schools, with only anecdotal evidence from parents available on individual school fees.
For 2018, parents with a single child are eligible for the levy-waving student assistant scheme (STAS) program if they earne $35,308 or under per year.
Parents with two children are eligible with an income of $40,612 or under per year.
An Education Department spokesman said the parents and guardians of approximately 38 per cent of students are presently approved under the system.
On Sunday Labor announced a policy of removing all school fees in a bid to equalise education opportunities, costing $24 million per year that would be paid for in Labor’s education budget.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff, however, warned the policy would “rip out” $96 million from schools over four years, and was unnecessary for families whose fees were already subsidised through STAS.
However Ms Gillard said the STAS system needed a review as it did not support enough families.
TASSO has long had a policy of reviewing school fees, and earlier welcomed Labor’s pledge to audit the school fee system.
“The STAS [cutoff] is so low, we’ve got people on healthcare cards who can’t get STAS,” Ms Gillard said.
The education department spokesman said levies would vary particularly based on differing grade levels.
“A school’s levies and charges will be determined in consultation with the school association, and be set with consideration to community expectations, family financial constraints and inclusive education,” the spokesman said.
