School children in the Grampians region could be left without a school bus with a Baillieu Government review flagging the possibility of axing the service, Shadow Minister for Education, Rob Hulls said today.
“It’s appalling the Baillieu Government is planning to slash bus services for Victorian school children,” Mr Hulls said.
“A letter about the review states that ‘service rationalisation is one possible outcome’.
“Mr Baillieu has kept this review very quiet but it’s time he tells parents why his Government is reviewing, and potentially cutting, bus services.
“Bus services are so important to families in the Grampians region with many not living within walking distance to schools.
“It looks like this is another program that’s become a victim of the Baillieu Government’s $480 million cuts to the Education Department’s budget.
“Parents deserve to know whether their children’s bus services will be cut.”
Mr Hulls said cutting bus services would hurt families.
“If these bus services are cut, how will children who rely on them get to school?” he said.
“Cutting bus services will be an added burden on the lives of many families.”
Mr Hulls said the proposed cuts followed the Government’s heartless decision to slash funding to the School Start Bonus.
“The Government is already taking away the $300 School Start Bonus from about 100,000 families with children starting prep and year seven.
“Scrapping bus services would be yet another slap in the face to hundreds of families that rely on these services.
“It’s time Mr Baillieu stops slashing services and starts making education his number one priority.”
The school bus services in the Grampians region facing an uncertain future are:
- Edenhope
- Donald
- Rupanyup
- Murtoa
- Warracknabeal
- Lake Bolac
- Marnoo PS
- Minyip PS
- Horsham
- Rokewood PS
- Apsley PS
- Kaniva
- Nhil
- St Arnaud
- Stawell
- Maroona
- Clunes