Unfair budget discriminates against Independent school parents

While the bonus is available to all parents with children in government schools, including those on high incomes, it is restricted to holders of concession cards at non-government schools.

This means that, out of total enrolments of more than 165,000 students in Victorian Independent schools, only about 17,000 will be eligible for the $400 payment.

‘The discriminatory restriction attached to the bonus is based on the false assumption that all parents in Independent schools are immune from cost-of-living pressures,’ ISV Acting Chief Executive Meg Hansen said.

‘Equally it assumes that all parents with children in government schools face those same pressures.

‘The conditions attached to the bonus appear to be based on a dated stereotype.

‘The fact is that close to half of high-income earners (families with an annual household income of $195,000 or more) send their children to government schools. Only 25 per cent send their children to Independent schools.’ Source: The Independent School Student, Independent Schools Australia (September 2023)

Ms Hansen says similar false stereotypes apply to the payroll tax imposed on Independent schools in last year’s budget.

‘Like last year’s, the 2024 budget assumes families who choose to educate their children in Independent schools aren’t under financial strain, and that it is fair to discriminate against them.

‘This year’s budget will be extremely disappointing to the growing number of parents, many of them on low to middle incomes, who chose an Independent school that matches the needs of their children.’