❓ Ms. Kent asks about the Country Week student assistance payment, and the Minister for Education responds by outlining the program's benefits and highlighting positive community feedback, particularly from the member for Geraldton. The Minister also takes a jab at the opposition for not promoting the initiative.
AnsweredQoN 103Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Country Week student assistance payment
103 . Ms Ali Kent to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's efforts to ensure that education opportunities are within
the reach of all Western Australians.
(1) Can the minister outline
to the house how this government's brand new Country Week student assistance
payment will support regional students participating in the annual sporting
event?
(2) Can the minister update the house on the
community's response to this important measure?
103 . Ms Ali Kent to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's efforts to ensure that education opportunities are within
the reach of all Western Australians.
(1) Can the minister outline
to the house how this government's brand new Country Week student assistance
payment will support regional students participating in the annual sporting
event?
(2) Can the minister update the house on the
community's response to this important measure?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for Kalgoorlie for that question, except I was expecting her to be on that side
of the chamber. Before I begin, I congratulate her on her ascension to the
Deputy Speaker role. It is well-deserved and she will be a great support to our
Mr Speaker.
(1)–(2) It was really fantastic to join
the member for Kalgoorlie and, of course, the students from Eastern Goldfields College
last week to announce the rollout of our Country Week student assistance
payment. It is another key cost-of-living election commitment that our
government is rolling out to reduce costs for Western Australians.
It was great to meet so many of
the students at the college. It will have 100 students—think about that—coming
down to Perth to compete in Country Week. Of course, they will join thousands
of students right across regional WA and will be competing against each other
in a range of sports. We know that kids from the bush like their sport and they
are pretty good at it too; so, this assistance payment is critically important
to support students and families in the cost of sending students to Country
Week. We know the cost of accommodation and the travel expenses can mount up,
so this is a very welcome announcement—$8 million over four years to
support country kids coming from the bush to Perth to participate in sport.
We want to make sure that all
kids are supported, no matter where they live, through this important cost-of-living
initiative. For students who live more than 300 kilometres from Perth, it means
that costs will be reduced by $500. Of course, for students who are closer than
300 kilometres to Perth, costs will be cut by $250 per
student. I am really proud that we have rolled out this election commitment in
time for Country Week, which we know is fast approaching, with the senior
school Country Week in late June and the district high school Country Week in
September. Members, we know that those across the chamber are sometimes
reluctant to talk about the cost-of-living measures that the Cook Labor
government has delivered. In fact, I have not seen a single member from the
opposite side promote the WA student assistant payment, even though we know how
critically important it is in terms of cost of living. Despite that, members, I
am happy to report that some 197,000 claims have now been processed, which is
quite extraordinary.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Sabine Winton: Members, I have to say that it was
pretty refreshing to see that the new member for Geraldton is backing in our Country
Week assistance payments, which is fantastic. I wanted to show it to people,
because we know that the National Party does not shy away from a good policy
when it sees it. We know it does not, because it actually matched our election
commitment for Country Week. It is one thing to match good policy from the
government, but it is quite another level when we see the member for Geraldton—
Several members
interjected.
Ms Sabine Winton: No, you have got to actually read
it. It is really good!
Mr Basil Zempilas: We cannot see it!
Ms Sabine Winton: Let me quote from it. It is one
thing to match an election commitment; it is quite another for a member of the
opposite side to acknowledge the delivery of our election commitments:
Great news for Geraldton families!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, I want to hear this.
Ms Sabine Winton: We all want to hear it. It is great
news for Geraldton. I quote Kirrilee Warr's Facebook post:
Great news for Geraldton families!
WA Labor is delivering on its election
promise to support regional students attending Country Week.
The member is
absolutely right; the Cook Labor government is getting on with its election
commitments. I think it is incredibly refreshing for the member for Geraldton
to call out the excellent cost-of-living support being delivered by this Labor
government. It would be really wonderful to see that kind of attitude prevail a
bit further so that we can continue to make sure that our cost-of-living relief
election commitments are captured and supported by those opposite. Well done, member
for Geraldton.
The Speaker: The member for Cottesloe.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Sorry, member. Hold on two secs.
Government members, when you are ready. Minister! Carry on, member for
Cottesloe.
for Kalgoorlie for that question, except I was expecting her to be on that side
of the chamber. Before I begin, I congratulate her on her ascension to the
Deputy Speaker role. It is well-deserved and she will be a great support to our
Mr Speaker.
(1)–(2) It was really fantastic to join
the member for Kalgoorlie and, of course, the students from Eastern Goldfields College
last week to announce the rollout of our Country Week student assistance
payment. It is another key cost-of-living election commitment that our
government is rolling out to reduce costs for Western Australians.
It was great to meet so many of
the students at the college. It will have 100 students—think about that—coming
down to Perth to compete in Country Week. Of course, they will join thousands
of students right across regional WA and will be competing against each other
in a range of sports. We know that kids from the bush like their sport and they
are pretty good at it too; so, this assistance payment is critically important
to support students and families in the cost of sending students to Country
Week. We know the cost of accommodation and the travel expenses can mount up,
so this is a very welcome announcement—$8 million over four years to
support country kids coming from the bush to Perth to participate in sport.
We want to make sure that all
kids are supported, no matter where they live, through this important cost-of-living
initiative. For students who live more than 300 kilometres from Perth, it means
that costs will be reduced by $500. Of course, for students who are closer than
300 kilometres to Perth, costs will be cut by $250 per
student. I am really proud that we have rolled out this election commitment in
time for Country Week, which we know is fast approaching, with the senior
school Country Week in late June and the district high school Country Week in
September. Members, we know that those across the chamber are sometimes
reluctant to talk about the cost-of-living measures that the Cook Labor
government has delivered. In fact, I have not seen a single member from the
opposite side promote the WA student assistant payment, even though we know how
critically important it is in terms of cost of living. Despite that, members, I
am happy to report that some 197,000 claims have now been processed, which is
quite extraordinary.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Sabine Winton: Members, I have to say that it was
pretty refreshing to see that the new member for Geraldton is backing in our Country
Week assistance payments, which is fantastic. I wanted to show it to people,
because we know that the National Party does not shy away from a good policy
when it sees it. We know it does not, because it actually matched our election
commitment for Country Week. It is one thing to match good policy from the
government, but it is quite another level when we see the member for Geraldton—
Several members
interjected.
Ms Sabine Winton: No, you have got to actually read
it. It is really good!
Mr Basil Zempilas: We cannot see it!
Ms Sabine Winton: Let me quote from it. It is one
thing to match an election commitment; it is quite another for a member of the
opposite side to acknowledge the delivery of our election commitments:
Great news for Geraldton families!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, I want to hear this.
Ms Sabine Winton: We all want to hear it. It is great
news for Geraldton. I quote Kirrilee Warr's Facebook post:
Great news for Geraldton families!
WA Labor is delivering on its election
promise to support regional students attending Country Week.
The member is
absolutely right; the Cook Labor government is getting on with its election
commitments. I think it is incredibly refreshing for the member for Geraldton
to call out the excellent cost-of-living support being delivered by this Labor
government. It would be really wonderful to see that kind of attitude prevail a
bit further so that we can continue to make sure that our cost-of-living relief
election commitments are captured and supported by those opposite. Well done, member
for Geraldton.
The Speaker: The member for Cottesloe.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Sorry, member. Hold on two secs.
Government members, when you are ready. Minister! Carry on, member for
Cottesloe.
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