…BY ABBOTTS BUDGET OF BROKEN PROMISES

Tasmanian students and families have today voiced their concerns over Tony Abbott’s Budget of broken promises unfairly targeting child care services, schools and universities.

Speaking at today’s education forum at the University of Tasmania, Shadow Assistant Minister for Education and Higher Education Amanda Rishworth spoke with Tasmanian families who are feeling unfairly disadvantaged because of Tony Abbott’s cuts to childcare, family day care, schools, universities and youth unemployment prevention programs.

“Tasmanians have made it very clear to me today that they’re feeling extremely hard done by under this Budget,” Ms Rishworth said.

“Despite promising “no cuts to education” before the last election, Tony Abbott has since done nothing but cut essential educational programs and services Tasmanians rely on every single day.

“Tony Abbott, with Will Hodgman’s seal of approval, lied to the Tasmanian people before the last election, and its Tasmania’s students and families who are now left to pay the price for his broken promises.”

Labor Senator for Tasmania Lisa Singh said speaking with families who were finding it hard to make ends meet was an eye opener to the depth of betrayal of the Abbott Government.

“Tony Abbott has abandoned Tasmanian students and families with his cuts to the Child Care Benefit, cuts to Family Day Care, cuts to a properly funded needs based school funding model, cuts to youth unemployment prevention programs and services, and with his plans for $100,000 university degrees.

“Tony Abbott doesn’t have a plan for Tasmania beyond cutting education programs and services to the bone and leaving the families of Tasmania to pick up the pieces.

Ms Rishworth and Senator Singh pledged to continue to fight against Tony Abbott’s harsh education cuts that unfairly target Tasmania.

“With the highest youth unemployment rate in the country Tony Abbott should be boosting educational programs and services in Tasmania, not blindly cutting into Tasmanian education and hoping for the best,” Senator Singh said.

Since coming to Government, Tony Abbott has announced:

• Cuts of $1 billion from early childhood services including the Child Care Benefit and Family Day Care.• Cuts of over $682 million from Tasmanian schools over the next decade.
• Cuts of $950 million out of Trade Training Centres.
• Defunded $128 million out of youth unemployment prevention programs and services including the National Job Guide and Youth Connections; and
• Cuts of $5.8 billion out of higher education including $113 million from the University of Tasmania, and plans to introduce $100,000 university degrees.

THE HON AMANDA RISHWORTH MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR KINGSTON

SENATOR THE HON LISA SINGH
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER
LABOR SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
Amanda Rishworth, Lisa Singh