Education Department refuses to release breakdown of student payments, despite Labor MPs getting same details

The Education Department has thumbed its nose at transparency, refusing to provide a breakdown of the State Government’s student assistance payments as tens of millions of dollars sits unclaimed by families. But the agency’s refusal to hand over the data comes despite the same level of information being provided to State MPs to spruik the payments on social media and in Parliamentary speeches. The scheme, which paid parents up to $250 per student, was designed to relieve costs heading into term two for parents, as cost of living pressures continue to bite. The West Australian requested the breakdown, including the number of eligible students, and those paid out, by school, after six weeks of the program running. But representatives of the Education Department and Education Minister Tony Buti’s office declined the requests. Instead, and unprompted, the Department issued a statement, revealing just over $57 million had been paid out to almost 300,000 students across WA by the end of May. The total budget for the scheme was $103 million. “The WA Student Assistance Payment helps parents and carers with the cost-of-living pressures associated with sending their children to school,” an Education Department spokeswoman said. “Claims can be submitted up until Friday, 28 June 2024, so the WA Student Assistance Payment offer still has five weeks to go. “There will be a full assessment of the program and payments made following its conclusion.” In estimates on Tuesday, Dr Buti said families of more than 170,000 primary school students had received the $150 payment for those up to year six, and a further 120,000 high school pupils had been paid the higher $250 amount. While not providing a specific percentage, the Minister said he believed about 60 per cent of eligible students had been paid the funding. “It is finding its way to everyone who applies. There are still a number of weeks left before the end of term,” Dr Buti told Parliament during estimates. “Parents will receive the money and they will spend it according to their needs. It is a cost-of-living relief. People have not come to me complaining about receiving the payment. “Parents have been asking for cost-of-living measures to relieve cost-of-living pressures. The money goes into their bank account, which we think is the most appropriate way. “Although (Nationals MP Peter Rundle) said that only 60 per cent of people have received the money, that is still a lot of people—a lot of families.” Analysis of advertising on social media shows the Education Department has spent nearly $50,000 on Facebook and Instagram, in a bid to encourage parents to claim the money. Mr Rundle, the shadow education minister said the Government’s secrecy over the program was leaving vulnerable families in the lurch and called for greater transparency around the uptake. “There are just four weeks left to access this highly touted cost-of-living payment, yet up to 40 per cent of families in WA are yet to submit a claim,” he said. “The Government must provide a breakdown of funding uptake by school or town to ensure families facing socio-economic disadvantage are benefiting as intended. “Families from multicultural backgrounds, remote Aboriginal communities, or those facing digital poverty may be unaware of this funding or struggling to access it.” Several Labor MPs took to Facebook to boast of the amounts paid out in their electorates, including Albany MP Rebecca Stephens, Kalgoorlie MP Ali Kent, and Morley MP Amber-Jade Sanderson. Carine MP Paul Lilburne listed Sorrento, North Beach and Marmion primary schools as the top three in his electorate for unclaimed payments. Users of the ServiceWA app, through which families can claim the funding, received an alert on Friday encouraging applications. In her budget speech to Parliament, retiring Landsdale MP Margaret Quirk even provided a table of data requested by this masthead. That table, published in Hansard, showed the breakdown of claims paid out by school, and the total number of eligible student. Payouts ranged from just over half the student population at Kingsway Christian College, where 779 of 1444 eligible pupils had claimed the funding, to two-thirds of Ashdale Primary School where the money had hit the accounts.