The NSW Opposition has condemned the Labor Government’s decision to slash the value of Active Kids and First Lap vouchers, cease the standalone Creative Kids voucher and massively restrict the eligibility of NSW families.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said hundreds of thousands of NSW families will lose hundreds of dollars each year.
“Before the election, Chris Minns promised to fund Active Kids vouchers, and after months of uncertainty families across NSW are paying for Labor’s broken promise,” Mr Speakman said.
“Given the rising pressure on family budgets, Chris Minns’ cuts mean children right across NSW will miss out on the opportunity to learn to swim, play sport and participate in creative activities.
“NSW families shouldn’t pay for the Labor Government’s broken promises and wrong priorities.”
Visiting Sutherland Aquatic Centre today, Shadow Minister for Sport Eleni Petinos said the first 12 months of the First Lap program had saved NSW families $18 million on swimming lessons.
“These vouchers not only reduce pressure on family budgets, they also give our young ones water safety and survival skills which could quite literally save lives,” Ms Petinos said.
“With 87 per cent of Australians living within 50 kilometres of the coastline, financial support for swimming lessons is too important to be cut by the Labor Government.”