The Rann Government is wasting up to $20,000 per student in a new scheme sending foster children to some of South Australia’s most expensive non-government schools instead of government schools.
“This scheme is being driven by Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine and involves taxpayers paying full fees and costs including uniforms to send students to schools like Walford, Pedare, St John’s Grammar and St Andrew’s,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said.
“The fees for a student at Walford go up to $15,270 per annum and together with uniforms and other costs could be close to $20,000 per annum.
“Mr Rann and Ms Rankine need to explain why these foster children could not be sent to some of our excellent government schools instead and at virtually no cost to taxpayers.
“Mr Rann and Ms Rankine should also explain such an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money when Families SA is unable to keep up with critical services in so many areas.
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“Ms Rankine also needs to explain what happens to the foster child when a family who become foster parents are unable to afford the $20,000 per annum to allow the child to stay at the expensive non-government schools.
“Ms Rankine also needs to explain why taxpayers’ money is being used in this way rather than on providing many of the other critical services unable to be provided to families at the moment.
“It is no wonder Mr Rann and Mr Foley have plunged our state’s finances into deficit and are in the process of more than doubling our debt.
“Mr Rann and Mr Foley cannot be trusted with our state’s finances.”