A WA Labor Government will help families with teenage children cover the costs of their education or training, with annual payments of $400 for those in training and $200 for those in Year 11 or 12.

Ms Saffioti said the Education ‘Cost of Living’ Payment would deliver a payment of $200 to parents of Year 11 and 12 students in WA secondary schools and $400 to parents of 16-year-old and 17-year-old trainees and apprentices.

“Families in my electorate are struggling with the Barnett Government’s increases to household bills and, if elected, WA Labor will help to ensure children received the best education possible,” she said.

“Education expenses place added pressure on family budgets and WA Labor’s payment will go some way to offsetting the Barnett Government’s neglect.

“Parents of Year 11 and 12 students at high schools in Ellenbrook and Ballajura will be eligible for the payment.”

WA Labor Leader Mark McGowan said if elected to Government in 2013, WA Labor would allocate $63.5million over four years to fund the Education ‘Cost of Living’ Payment.

“I said I wanted to make life a little easier for Western Australian families and I meant it. This announcement is the commencement of this new approach,” Mr McGowan said.

“It’s estimated more than 120,000 Western Australian families will benefit from the payment in the first four years of the scheme alone, with many more to benefit thereafter.

“WA Labor cares about the struggle parents are facing in meeting the day to day costs of education for their children and the Education ‘Cost of Living’ Payment recognises that.”