Despite having bus passes entitling free travel, some families have been sent bills for school bus fares
The Minister for Infrastructure seems incapable of correctly administering bus fares and passes
Liberal policy of free bus fares would mean these problems would not happen

Parents of Yolla District High School students have received bills for so-called unpaid bus fares despite their children holding passes that entitle them to free travel to and from school.

This is yet another example of the ineptitude of the Minister for Infrastructure who it seems cannot even get the simplest of tasks right.

These families are rightfully upset that Labor is seeking payment for student travel they have been told would not cost them a cent.

This is not the first time that families of Yolla High School students have been messed around with bus fares. There has been a lack of consistency and a failure by the Minister to deliver a fair and equitable system for students and their families.

We shouldn’t forget that Mr Sturges had to apologise to a group of Hadspen parents after he tried to slug them with additional bus fees because their children were forced to travel further to get to school through no fault of their own. One of the reasons why an apology was necessary was because at a meeting with the parents he reportedly said that if the Hadspen parents “want a blue, you’ve got a blue”, which is yet another case of the Minister’s inappropriate use of words getting him in trouble.

Thankfully Mr Sturges later admitted he was wrong, changed his mind and stopped charging the Hadspen parents. However, it looks like there are still significant problems in his school bus system and they are simply not getting fixed.

Under the Liberal’s policy of free bus travel for all students travelling to and from school, this situation would not happen.

The Minister should immediately look into how many families with bus passes have been sent these bills and immediately rectify the mistake.

And the Labor Government should adopt another Liberal policy by making school bus travel free.
Jeremy Rockliff MP Shadow Minister for Infrastructure