Victorian opposition promises free school lunches under $300 million plan
Victorian public school students will be offered free school lunches under a new $300 million Coalition election promise to combat cost-of-living pressures.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will announce a two-year pilot program to provide healthy lunch meals to prep to year 12 students if he’s elected in the state poll on November 26.
The Victorian Liberals have committed to a $300 million pilot program to provide lunches to public school students.Credit:iStock
The program, which would begin in mid-2023, would be optional and parents would choose meals via an app or website. Lunch options would be assessed by a panel of nutrition experts.
Australia’s consumer price index for the September quarter, released on Wednesday, showed annual inflation has reached its highest level since 1990, at 7.3 per cent, with fruit and vegetable prices rising 16.2 per cent.
Supermarket giant Coles announced this week that prices at its stores climbed 7.1 per cent in the September quarter, with fresh food prices jumping 8.8 per cent.
Guy said in a media release that he anticipated the program could be extended to all state schools by 2026.
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.Credit:Scott McNaughton
He said the plan would “reward hard-working families” and provide a solution to food insecurity and the rising cost of living.
“As a parent of three boys, I know how difficult it can be to always provide your child with the best lunch option, at the best of times,” Guy said.
“The Healthy Lunches program will take the stress and cost away from parents in providing nutritious food to their children at school.”
A spokesman for the state government said it had provided more than 25 million free breakfast club meals to students in 1000 Victorian schools, in partnership with FoodBank Victoria. Lunches have also been given to students needing additional support.
“You can’t trust Matthew Guy’s Liberals. When they were last in government, they cut Free Fruit Fridays, leaving thousands of Victorian kids hungry, and slashed the Education Maintenance Allowance, leaving families up to $300 worse off per child per year,” the spokesman said.
Both major parties have promised billions in this election campaign, with the majority of committed funding going to health, transport and education.
The budget office has counted 222 funding announcements from the Liberals and Nationals at a total cost of $25.7 billion. Labor had 81 announcements worth $8.3 billion.
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