Arabic version: العمال يوسعون خدمات OSHC، الليبراليون يدعمون الرسوم المدرسية المجانية

The South Australian Liberals have given conditional support to Labor’s promise to end public school fees from next year, cautioning they still want more detail on where the funding is coming from. According to ABC News, both parties are actively campaigning ahead of the March 21 election.

Labor’s key announcement involves scrapping public school fees for all students starting next year, with a projected cost of $300 million over four years. Liberal leader Ashton Hurn has expressed cautious support for the plan but emphasized the need for clarity on funding sources before any legislation is passed.

In addition to the school fee initiative, Labor is also set to expand out of school hours care (OSHC) services to 68 schools over the next four years. Labor leader Peter Malinauskas highlighted that currently “tens of thousands” of kids do not get access to OSHC and that this expansion would create 2,300 extra spots, aiming for comprehensive OSHC availability at every public primary school within 10 years.

Meanwhile, the Liberals are advocating for a major freight bypass to alleviate traffic congestion in the marginal seat of Hammond. Hurn has committed $211 million for the project, stressing the need to remove heavy vehicles from city roads and improve infrastructure. She criticized the Labor government for inaction in the region, asserting that without these improvements, traffic issues would worsen significantly.