House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-06-15 Daily Xml

Contents

Public School Fees

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Education. Has the minister considered that the letter is consistent with section 6 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, the requirement to maintain party political neutrality? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I would like to explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The letter begins:

Dear parent/caregiver

At the recent State Election, we made a commitment that a Malinauskas Labor Government would give South Australian families with school-age children a $100 discount on their public school's Materials and Services Charge for each child for the next two school years (2022 and 2023).

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At a time when cost of living pressures are being felt by many families, we are making sure we deliver on our commitment as quickly as possible.

The Hon. B.I. BOYER (Wright—Minister for Education, Training and Skills) (14:33): My understanding is that it is consistent and it is not in breach of the particular clause that the member for Morialta just read out. I am happy to take some advice on that, but I think my answer is: I don't think it contravenes the code of conduct in any way.

I think the letter is pretty straight, to be perfectly honest. It really doesn't go into politics in any detail at all. It is a short letter, which sets out in very easy to understand terms for all South Australian families who have children in the public education system what they need to do or what they don't need to do to make sure they get access to this $100 off the materials and services charge this year and next year as well.