LABOR will cut school sport programs for primary students in Leichhardt, with only a re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government committed to protecting them.
Labor's election costings provide no funding for the Coalition's highly-successful Sporting Schools program beyond 1 July 2017.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said students at 34 local schools would have their access to government-funded school sporting programs cut from next year under a Shorten Labor Government.
“Labor’s decision to end funding for Sporting Schools would be a devastating blow for the health and social skills of children in the Far North and is another reason why parents should not support Labor at this election,” Mr Entsch said.
“Just one third of kids under 13 are getting the recommended one hour of physical activity per day and one in four children are overweight or obese.
“Labor's decision to cut sporting schools will only ensure the children of Leichhardt become another sad statistic.”
The schools in Leichhardt that have taken part in the Sporting Schools program are located south of Cairns right through to Douglas, Cooktown, Weipa, Coen, and the Torres Strait.
– Alexandra Bay State School
– Aurukun Campus of CYAAA
– Balaclava State School
– Bentley Park College
– Cairns West State School
– Caravonica State School
– Coen Campus of CYAAA
– Cooktown State School
– Edge Hill State School
– Freshwater State School
– Holy Cross Catholic School
– Hopevale Campus of CYAAA
– Kowanyama State School
– Machans Beach State School
– Miallo State School
– Mossman State School
– Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School
– Parramatta State School
– Port Douglas State School
– Rossville State School
– St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch Valley
– St Therese's School
– Tagai State College – Warraber Island Campus
– Thursday Island Primary School – Tagai College
– Trinity Anglican School
– Trinity Anglican School (Marlin Coast Campus)
– Trinity Beach State School
– Western Cape College (Mapoon Campus)
– Western Cape College (Weipa)
– White Rock State School
– Whitfield State School
– Wonga Beach State School
– Woree State School
– Yorkeys Knob State School
“Only the Coalition has committed $60 million to ensure Sporting Schools continues to roll out beyond 1 July 2017 in Leichhardt to keep our children healthy and happy.”
Sporting Schools – launched last year – is the Coalition's signature policy and has been a hit in communities across Australia, already rolling out to over 850,000 students in over 5000 primary schools nationwide in just 12 months.
The Coalition's commitment of $60 million will not only continue the roll out of Sporting Schools in primary schools beyond 1 July 2017, but also expand its reach into Years 7 and 8 to prevent the significant ‘drop out’ in physical activity levels that emerge when children hit high school.
